LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




D0DlDE7b'^7H 





jYhc^birWv^c^OJtMn ypi(h/JV^ 



A SKETCH 
or THE BOYHOOD DAYS 



OF 



AndTGW J. Andrews, 

of Gloucester Cour\tv, Virginia, 



AND 



HIS CXPCRICNCC AS A SOLDIER IN THE 
LATE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES. 



WRITTEN BY HIMSELr. 



To vvhicri cii^e added Selected Poems 
by the Author. 



RICHMOND, VA. : 
Thk Hermitage Press, Inc. 
11905. 






7.1 i^^] 



<3 



Aiitohiogmphy of Andrew Jaclcson Andrews. 3 



This poem <was given to me by my mother, Mrs, 
p Emily AndreivSf on going to Tvar ; 

y: also a Bible, 



LINES IN A SOX'S BIBLE. 

Eemember, love, who gave thee this, 
When other clays shall come — 

When one who has had thy earliest kiss 
Sleeps in her narrow home; 

Remember, 'twas a mother gave 

The gift to one she'd die to save. 

That mother sought a pledge of love, 

The holiest for her son; 
And from the gift of God above, 

She chose a goodly one; 
She chose for her beloved boy, 
The source of life and light and joy. 

And bade him keep the gift — that when 
the parting hour should come, 

Tliey might have hope to meet again. 
In her eternal home. 

She said his faith in that would be 

Sweet incense to his memory. 



Autobiography of Andrew Jaclcson Andrews. 

And should the scoffer in his pride, 

Laugh that fond gift to scorn. 
And bid him cast that pledge aside, 

That he from youth had borne. 
She bade him pause and ask his breast. 
If he, or she, had loved him best? 

A parent's blessing on her son 

' Goes with this holy thing ; 

The love that would retain the one 

Must to the other cling. 
Eemember ! 'tis no idle toy, 
A mother's gift — remember, boy! 

— Andrew Jackson Andrews. 




AUTOblOGPAPHY 



—OF— 



Andrew Jacteon Andrews. 



The writer was bom within one-half a mile of 
Cappalioosie Wharf, in the county of Gloucester, 
State of Virginia, on the nineteenth day of Aug- 
ust, 1842, and is the youngest son of "William 
and Emily Andrews, now deceased. My father 
was an officer in the war of 1812 between Eng- 
land and the United States and served with dis- 
tinction as Captain of Artillery. My mother was 
a Miss New, born in the city of Petersburg, Va., 
and her father was of French extract, and was an 
officer in the Light Dragoons at the Battle of 
YorktO'wn. So, kind reader, you have my pedi- 
gree, which should always be given. Yes, I 
look with the deepest interest on my once beauti- 
ful co'untiy home in Gloucester as I now see it, 
all dilapidated by the ruthless hand of Time. 
But, still, I can but recall with the most pleasant 
reminiscences of my life spent in boyhood days 
under my parental roof. Yes, I remember the 



6 AutoUography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

beautiful shady trees, the magnificent flower 
garden, and elegant lawn that were watched 
over by a dear mother, and, oh, how pleasant, 
on a balmy spring morning, whilst awaking from 
a delightul night's repose, to hear the lovely 
chirps of the sweet-singing mocking bird! His 
beautiful notes would enrapture a heathen, much 
less an innocent school boy like myself. Yes, it 
is a pleasant recollection to look baclv upon the 
fine society, the fine and sumptuous dinners, and 
entertainments given by my good-hearted old 
father. Captain William Andrews. Methinks I 
can see his jolly countenance, enraptured with 
joy, as he would dish out his fine and luscious 
York river oysters and huge roasted pigs and 
turkeys and other elegant dislies at some of his 
grand dinners to his most welcome guests. 
Surely in my days of boyhood my father might 
have been termed a ''Nabob," as far as good 
living was looked upon, for, just in this exact 
locality, the noble York afforded all tlie luxuries 
of the salt water, and my father being an expert 
farmer with considerable means, kept his table 
most bountifully supplied with the luxuries of 
land and sea, as the York is but a mere arm of 
the Chesapeake Bay and the finest fish and oys- 
ters the world ever saw could be obtained in 
abundance. But the writer, when a mere youth, 



Autohiography of Andrew Jackson Andreivs. 7 

had a great love for quail hunting and duck 
spoi"ting, too, and many a fat quail and can- 
vassed back duck fell at the crack of liis fine 
English shotgun. Even noAV, a man of forty- 
two years, 1 dearly love my old sports of hunt- 
ing and fishing— my dear love for quail hunting, 
or, as the Northern gentleman would term it, or 
die Southerner would say, partridge hunting. 1 
never shall abandon my guns and dogs, and, 
really, they are my hobbies, if ever a man had 
any, foT I came by them honestly, and even now, 
a man with five children, I am as almost as 
childish in this particular line as one of my own 
sweet children, or, rather, one of the boys, for 
just to think how silly I am to be sitting up until 
3 o'clock to-night mourning the loss of my splen- 
did setter dog that was drowned in the well only 
a night ago, which was carelessly left open by an 
intruding person. And apart from this I have 
lost many valuable cows from tliieves that make 
a practice of stealing my most valuable animals 
that cost me much time and money to raise. But, 
kind reader, I am launching ont toO' fast on my 
present life with deep recollections. Let me, for 
a moment, look back at my commencement in 
life. 

When a mere school boy I was called Jack, as 
my father was a staunch old Democrat and called 



8 Autobiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

me after the Hero of New Orleans— Andrew 
Jackson, although I am not worthy, in a meas- 
ure, of that great general's name. I am sure 
that I have smelt as much gun-powder and had 
more trials and tribulations in life than the 
honorable general himself. 

Whilst at the County Academy in Gloucester, 
better known as Cappahoosic Military Academy, 
I was a First Lieutenant in that corjDs of cadets, 
and this was the beginning of my militaiy career. 
The commander of this little corps of cadets was 
a Captain James H. Waddell, of Rockbridge 
county, Va., and a graduate of tlie Lexington, 
Va., Military Institute, a fine gentleman, a splen- 
did scholar, and elegant soldier was he. I must 
say I learned more under this gentleman 's super- 
vision than all the balance of my teachers, and, 
furtliennore, that the gallant little corps of 
cadets witli their splendid gray cloth uniforms 
and handsome trimmings would put some of our 
old Virginia volunteers to the blush, as far as 
neatness goes, and in the drill and exercise of the 
manual of aims and their different field ma- 
noeuvres I inost positively confinn could not be 
excelled by the New York Seventli, which is con- 
sidered one of the crack regiments of the United 
States. But why should I linger on this point so 
long? For but a few years after my school days 



Autohiograpliy of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 9 

and traiiiiug I had to go to Lancaster county, 
Va., to reside with my good and venerable okl 
uncle, Dr. Frank Duval Jones. A finer gentle- 
man to live with conld never b^ found, my kind 
reader, in tlie gloi'ions old Commonwealth of 
Virginia. 

It wais here I went to school to a gentleman by 
the name of Lutlier Glascock. I liked him very 
much, and I was always in the veiy cream of 
good society. My fond and dear cousin, Betsy 
Jones, looked after me with as much pleasure 
and ladylike piide as if I liaid been her own son 
or brotiier. But death loves a shining mark. 
This splendid and refined daughter of Virginia 
was soon called to a better world than this, and 
in the east end of White Chapels church's beau- 
tiful buiying gi^onnd lies the remains of one of 
tlie dearest friends that your humble servant ever 
had on this eartli, and so, dear cousin, I leave 
thee now from my memory for tlie present to 
requiescat in pace. After her death I removed to 
Gloucester Courthouse, Va., and went in the mer- 
cantile business as clerk for a Mr. Thomas B. 
Taliaferro, and a first-class store he had, and he 
understood how to keep a coimtry store. I never 
was at a loss for good times and good company, 
and how I did enjoy the good old country din- 
ners ! 



10 Autobiography of Andreiv Jachson Andrews. 

Co'Ui-t days at the countiy hotel were a caution 
to Jacob. But my career was veiy soon cut sliort 
as a clerk at Gloucester Coui-tliouse, as the news 
caine upon us and the belching of gnns of the 
Botetourt Artilleiy echoed the sad tidings to tlie 
stout-hearted faimers that war was declared be- 
tween the States, and as I was a member of tlie 
Gloucester Invincible Blues, was ordered to 
Gloiucester Point, at the extreme end of the 
county opposite Yorktown. Our command was 
under Brigadier-General William B. Taliaferro, 
who was in full command of the garrison. We 
had been there but a few days before an en- 
counter took place between the United States 
gunboat called the Yankee and a detachment of 
the Richmond Howitzers, under the command of 
Captain Brown. The very first shot— a twelve- 
pounder— from one of the enemy's guns came 
very near putting an end to my existence, as 1 
was walking from the water batteiy to join my 
command on the hill above. But a. few well-di- 
rected shots told the Yankee boys that Captain 
Brown's Howitzers would not allow them to cross 
the Rubicon, or, in other words, enter up the York 
river any further. One shot from Capt. Brown 's 
guns that were placed under tlie cover of an old 
pier on the point struck this gunboat amid-ship 
and very soon she fired a lee gun, or, to use a 



Autobiography of Andrciv Jachson Andrews. 11 

nautical expression, a gun to the leeward, and 
went out the iiiontli of the York with our side- 
wiieel paddling along like an old lame duck. 
This fine niarksuianship and sharp and decisive 
encounter told the jolly boys of Uncle Sam's 
navy that we Soutlieirn boys were not to be 
growled at. Veiiy soon another steamer came to 
her rescue and towed the disabled man-of-war to 
Old Point Comfoi-t. Tlie mouth of the river 
after this was finally closed, and after this en- 
gagement all of the boys shouted and got on a 
most glorious old spree. 

You may say tliis was the first gun fired in the 
war. 

I became tired of infantry service, and as I 
had a dear friend in the Kichmond Howitzers, T 
obtained from. General George Bankhead Mac- 
GiTider a special transfer to the Howitzers, of 
Kichmond city, then stationed at Y^'orktown, Va. 
And here let me say is the noted place^ that Lord 
Colli wallis surrendered his forces to the Ameri- 
cans, as every well-read citizen knows. It was 
not very long before I became acquainted with 
all the boys in my new command and soon felt 
all right with my new companions-in-aims and 
brothers-in-peril. Frequently I would pay visits 
to my father and mother, who only lived some 
15 miles down the river from Gloucester Point. T 



12 Autobiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

used to travel in an open two-oared boat, and 
pulled all tlie way to and fro by myself. Always 
on my return tlie boys were glad to see their new 
comrade ''Jack" to get something good to eat 
from the countiy. I was not at the Battle of 
Bethel, the first field fight of the war, as I did 
not join the Howitzers until after that engage- 
ment—could not get my transfer any sooner. 
The campaign of the Howitzers was a very 
nigged one, indeed, on the Peninsula, The nar- 
row, muddy roads rendered it almost impossible 
for troops to march, and many a time, on some 
of our forced marches, I had to go in mud over 
my knees and shoulder to the wheels of the gun 
caisson to help push it out of the deep mud- 
holes. The command ex}3erienced much sick- 
ness from chills and fevers and forced marches 
in this foggy section of the countiy. 

I witnessed a sight whilst encamped at York- 
town that I never shall forget A meml^er of a 
Louisiana infantiy battalion became very much 
intoxicated one day, and one of our Howitzers 
was guarding the whai'f at the steamers' land- 
ing, when a Louisiana soldier (I think his name 
was Francis CaiTol) came up staggering along, 
saying, ' ' I want to go aboard the steamer to get 
a drink." 

' ' Can 't do it, ' ' said the sentinel. 



Autobiography of Andretu Jaclcson Andrews. 13 

"But d-d if I don't," said Carral. 

Just at this time Dr. Theodore P. Mays, an 
officer of the day and a member of our command, 
came up to Carrol and said, "Sir, you can't go 
on the wharf as it is positively against orders 
from headquai-ters. " With that Can-ol struck 
the noble Dr. Theodore under the burr of the 
ear and knocked his Eoyal Highness senseless 
to the ground at full length, and he did not re- 
cover from the shock for two days. General 
Randolph, aftei-^ards Secretary of War, came 
i-ushing up with two privates with fixed bayonets 
and caiiied CaiTol to jail at Yorktown. Very 
soon after this affair our command was ordered 
to Suffolk, Va., and on our way this same Carrol 
had been court-martialed for striking Dr. Mayo 
and sentenced to go aboard the Confederate 
States steamer called the Merrimac, at Suffolk, 
Va., to i^erfomi the hardships of a sailor's life 
until the war ended. But, alas ! he did not have 
even that pleasure, for at Petersburg, Va., some 
one gave him a canteen of apple brandy and it 
flew to his head, and whilst under the influence 
of liquor he became terribly umaily on the cars 
and was shot dead by tiie guard, but not until 
after he was shot three times through the breast 
did he ever succumb. After he was shot his re- 
mains were buried at Suffolk, Va., a small town 



14 Autohiographij of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

between Petersburg and Portsmoutli, Va,, where 
our batteiy pitched camp. He was stripped be- 
fore burial and I saw his body, and a more beau- 
tiful specimen of a man I never saw. His form 
was perfect, Ms skin as smooth and as beautiful 
as white marble, and his flesh as hard and as 
tough as Indian rubber ; the muscles of the arms 
shook like jelly; his eyes were as black as a 
rattlesnake's. In fact, he was one of the best- 
built young men I have ever seen. He was soon 
after found out by people who knew him to be a 
prize-fighter of great notoriety from near 
Shreveport, Louisiana. 

This killing of Francis Carrol was very much 
condemned by our comrades as being very cow- 
ardly, as the man could have been brought to 
subjection by hooking bayonets around his body 
and then tying him. Tliis Carrol, free of whis- 
key I heard, was a fine man, and he was frequent- 
ly heard tO' say that he deeply regretted the blow 
given Dr. Mayo, as he respected and liked all 
of the members of the Howitzer battalion. This 
was a sad sight and the last words he uttered 
were the most terri]>le oaths that ever escaped 
a man's lips, all from the effects of Major-Gren- 
eral John Barleycorn, the General of Generals. 

Our battery had some few spats with the 
enemy on the North Carolina lines, but they 



Autohiography of Andreiv Jackson Andrews. 15 

amounted to notliing of mucli importance. I 
was veiy sick nearly all the time at Suffolk, and, 
indeed, there was much sickness among the 
troops. However, our command was very soon 
ordered in front of tlie city of Kichmond, as 
Yorktown and Gloucester Point had been 
evacuated by the Confederate forces, and Gen- 
eral McClellan, the Federal commander, was 
moving on Kichmond both by the York river, 
where he landed by means of transports at the 
White House, on tlie Pamunky river. Soon after 
the battle of Williamsburg, he then, with liis 
forces, landed at the White House, as stated, 
and concentrated his forces around Richmond. 

My battery took a very conspicuous part in 
these engagements. The first commenced with 
was at the battle of Gaines' Mill. The conflict 
was severe, although our command lost few 
men. I was knocked senseless from the concus- 
sion of a ball from one of the enemy's seige 
guns, but soon gathered myself up again and 
went on fighting. The dead and dying were 
strewn in every direction. It looked like a pity 
to see the beautiful fields of wheat, torn to pieces 
by the discharge of infantry and artilleiy. Such, 
however, dear reader, was the fate of war. It 
was a necessary evil, and, I used to say, ' ' What 
can't be cured must be endured, my lads." 



16 Autobiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

These were remorseless times, for we were now 
being made to CKperience that our country was 
flowing in blood, desolation, and destruction. 
A famous general of Feathers tone's brigade was 
alccused in this fight of showing the "white 
feather." However, I was so young and inex- 
X>erienced I hardly knew the meaning of "white 
feather." I knew one thing— that it took a 
pretty game chicken to fight in those days and 
times from sunrise tO' sundown in the seven-days 
fight around the city of Riclunond, Va. 

After this, the battle of Cold Harbor came off 
and the road was filled with the Yankee dead 
and wounded. Having had several severe en- 
gagements with the enemy, they were completely 
routed and retreated tO' a point on the James 
river called "Turkey Bend." During a field 
fight near Malvem Hill we had an open fight 
with the enemy, and during the engagement I 
had a personal encounter with one of my com- 
rades named Piet. Several blows passed, but 
we found it healthy to look after our common 
enemy and stop such unbrotherly acts on the 
field of battle. Indeed, we both felt badly about 
it afterwards. Since the war my old comrade, 
who has been in a Baltimore house as salesman, 
frequently sees mei, and we have a hearty laugh 
over that traiis^ction, The idea of two men in 



Autobiograpliy of Andrew Jaclcson Andrews. 17 

pitched battle getting into a fist-fight beats all I 
ever heard of during the entire war. 

After the enemy were driven back to their 
gunboats our batter\^ was stationed on Libbv's 
Hill, or Libby's Heights, some ten or twelve 
miles below Kichmond, on the Charles City road. 
The exact distance I do not now remember. Dur- 
ing our encampment on this farm oiir camp was 
frequently shelled by the enemies' gLinboats in 
the James river, stationed at the mouth of a 
creek called Deep Bottom. There was many a 
dark and dreary day spent at this place, for 
when a fellow had his pot of beans on cooking, 
''Bang" would come a huge shot from one of 
those Columbiads, and on many occasions we 
would be minus a dinner. 

On one occasion a colored girl was hanging 
out some clothing to diy in Libby's yard and an 
interesting scene occurred. It was a beautiful 
morning, and everything was as still as death, 
when "Boom" thundered a sixty-four pounder 
from an iron-clad in the river and tore clothes- 
line and clothes, tree and all down, and a portion 
of the porch near the kitchen at one shot. The 
j)oor, unfortunate girl whirled over like a top 
and screamed out, ''Oh, Lord, God! Gimmen, I 
jnn kilt! Oh, blessed Jesus, have mussy on dis 
nigger!" I yelled at her to hold fast to her rig- 



18 Autohio(jrapliy of Andrew Jachson Andrews. 

ging, and let the clothes line go and get under 
the brow of the hill, or she would be killed. She 
made no delay, I can assure j^ou, in taking my 
advice, and as she went along she could be heard 
to ejaculate, "Oh, Lord! gosh, massa, dat I will, 
sah." She had hardly gotten to the rise of the 
hill when "bang" belched another cannon, and 
came very near killing the girl. The concussion 
knocked her down, but up she sprang, and I am 
sure it would have taken a race horse, equal to 
Taylor's celebrated Toi-nado, to catch up with 
her, she was running so fast. She finally came 
to a halt and returned, but it looked very much 
to me as if under a severe protest. 

Another day a line of sharp-shooters advanced 
from the line of woods from Deep Bottom and 
Colonel Hardaway, our regimental commander, 
of Alabama, came very near being killed stone 
dead, had I not by a sudden jerk pulled him to 
the ground as soon as I saw a bright smoke from 
one of the enemy's sharp-shooters. The bullet 
went whistling through the tent he was standing 
in front of. The Colonel had on a red shirt, and, 
therefore, made a good target, and would have 
been killed had I not interfered so quickly. The 
Colonel seemed much surprised at my pulling 
him to the ground and wanted to know what I 
meant by it. I exj)lained with a touch of the 



Auloh'wijraphij of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 19 

hat, and pointed to the danger, and I can assure 
you he not only ai)ologized, but seemed very 
grateful at my prudence and forethought. There 
were many killed whilst at this place. One day 
when moving a piece of cannon by prolonged 
movement a fellow-comrade was shot by my side. 

To sleep was next tO' impossible as the enemy 
took delight in annoying us at the dead hour of 
the night. 

One day General R. E. Lee was sitting in the 
rear porch of the Libby residence and the sharp- 
shooters were riddling the house with their bul- 
lets. I went up to General Robert and told him 
he had better retire from such a dangerous lo- 
cality, but he calmly remarked, and veiy polite- 
ly, too, "I am not afraid, sir." Their bullets, 
as stated, were penetrating the house through 
and through, and I expected every moment to 
see him killed, but, to my astonislmient, a few 
moments after, I saw him, in a cool manner, 
writing an order which he gave to a courier 
under a most galling fire at this moment from 
tlie infantiy of the enemy, and also from the 
huge, heav>^ cannons from the gunlxiats in the 
James river. I had two horses killed during 
this severe cannonading, one shot kill(Hl ))oth at 
once, as they were standing side by side. Cap- 
tain Libby 's com was beautiful before this occu- 



20 Autohiograplnj of Andrew Jaclcson Andrews. 

pancy by our troops, and from frequent bom- 
bardments liis entire crop was completely ruined 
by shells from the enemy's gunboats that never 
ceased day or night to pay their compliments. 
I have seen those heavy shells cut down acres of 
corn at one fire, a most pitiful sight it was, too. 
I felt deeply sorry for old Captain Libby (the 
Libby prison was named after this venerable 
gentleman), as he would stand smoking his ])ipe 
and see his crops being destroyed by a I'uthless 
enemy. But the old fellow was pretty game, as 
I used to hear liim utter most profane oaths, 
such as these — ''Dam those blue-nosed Yankees; 
I wish the last one was iisr hell for destroying 
my corn-crop." 

You will please excuse my, dear reader, for re- 
peating oaths I heard, but to make this sketch 
complete I am compelled to state facts that came 
under my personal observation. 

Very soon by heavy fighting and reinforce- 
ments we compelled them to stick to their gun- 
boats as from our position they were no match 
for us on land, as our troops had a most com- 
manding position. The fire of our artillery 
would mow the enemy down like chaff before the 
wind. Very soon our battery of artillery was 
formed into a regiment and we were ord- 
ered to the Valley of Virginia. But I am 



Autobiography of Andrew Jachson Andrews. 21 

ratlicr fast. My sweotlieart and aftei*wards 
my wil'e was oii a visit near the Wliite 
House and I got a. buggy and ventured 
out and brought her back and caine very near 
being captured at times the enemy was so close 
to me, and I ran a very great risk. But who 
wouldn't for his sweetheart? This was just be- 
fore the seven days' fight. Now to start again, 
oui" enemy had evacuated evei'j^where around 
Richmond and we started up the valley for the 
enemy. It was a tedious march, I can assure 
you, and how I did hate to leave my sweetheart 
and now my present wife behind. It was gall- 
ing, indeed, on this march to tlie mountains of 
Virginia and thence to Pennsylvania. Our com- 
mand, after long marches, came in contact with 
the enemy at Fredericksburg, Va. That was a 
heavy fight, and it was in this battle that the 
gi'eat "Stonewall" Jackson was killed by liis 
own command. Our a.nny, after a grand re- 
view by General Lee, moved in one solid column 
up the valley and came suddenly upon the enemj' 
at Winchester, Va., and our side gained a most 
complete victor;^. I saw some three thousand 
five hundred Blue Coats surrendered their anns 
and equipments to our forces in an open field, 
looking east of AViuchester, about midday. The 
sun was shining brightly, and there was a per- 



22 Autobiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

feet calm— not a leaf of the trees could he seen 
to move. The surrender was a grand sight. 
Our soldiers were much elated at their success. 
In this battle the enemy was badly handled, and 
3^ou may depend upon it. They were entirely 
surprised as our guns belched forth their most 
deadly missiles in their ranks before they knew 
or were aware of our presence, as they had no 
idea' that a Eebel soldier was nearer than Rich- 
mond, Va., to them. We had pickets ahead all 
the time during our advance and captured and 
brought in our lines every living soul that could 
impart any news to the enemy. We captured 
large quantities of provisions aiid munitions of 
war. General Willroy commanded on the Fed- 
eral side here and had quiet possession of the 
whole valley, and his daughter was heard to 
boast so, some citizens told us after we had the 
fight. 

''Nobody could whip her pa " 

This young damsel was sadly mistaken, as 
our command licked her pa very easily, and the 
gentleman barely made his escape. I will ven- 
ture to say that a man could have played marbles 
on his coat tail, he absconded sO' fast. I think he 
must have been terribly frightened to have for- 
saken his daughter. No doubt the General 



Autohiograpliy of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 33 

tliouglit tliere was no' time to' swap knives during 
such momentous times. 

After our main forces, seventy five thousand 
strong, came up, we proceeded on our grand 
march at once to invade Pennsylvania. We had 
repeated engagements witli the enemy before 
crossing the Potomac river at Williamsport, 
Maryland. 

I saw a very sad and heart-rending sight at 
Williamsport before our advance column crossed 
over the river, and it was this: The Federal 
cavalry occupied Williamsport on the Maryland 
side of the river and our battery was ordered to 
shell the town, which we did, with much terror 
and execution to the enemy, and during the ter- 
rific bombardment a most beautiful woman, or 
I may say lady, was seen fording the river, a 
Newfoundland dog following, with an infant in 
her arms. One of our boys seeing this went 
into the river, which was very much swollen 
from' rain, and took the infant from the arms of 
its mother and placed it behind a large tree for 
protection. The poor lady, with her hair all 
streaming down her back, asked us not to kill 
her. We assured her we were not savages, and 
only shelled the town to drive the soldiers out so 
we could cross over with our conomand. 



24 Autohiograplnj of Andrew Jachson Andrews. 

Our boys were remarkably polite to lier, iu 
fact, we were polite to ladies, both Goufederate 
and Federal. After some firing our command 
crossed O'ver tlie Potomac river, but our caissons 
were delayed and most of our ammunition was 
damaged by water, but after getting over, dried 
the same and replaced the shells in their proper 
jDlaces in the shrapnel cases. After ci'ossing 
with our entire command of infantiy, artillery, 
and Light Dragoons, we had frequent skirmishes 
with the enemy with our advance pickets, and the 
Federal cavalry retarded our movements very 
greatly at times. 

Capt. Carter, of the Howitzers, in commajid 
witli a detachment second and third gun, made 
some good shots at some of the enemy 's pickets. 
I was detailed to go toi a spring near a peach 
orchard on our left wing between two fires, and, 
bless your life, the leaden pills flew thick a,s hail 
around your humble servant's head, and, don't 
you forget it, I overlooked filling up one-half 
of the canteens, as that was rather an unhealthy 
place. We, or I, would say, both sides were 
fighting for that spring, as it was hot and water 
scarce, and I called it the Battle of the Spring. 

One of our lifle pieces knocked over an im- 
pertinent cavahyman on a white horse one 
moniing on that advance. The fellow would 



AutoUography of Andrew Jachson Andrews. 25 

come to the brow of a. Iiill, wiive his sabre and 
then move down again until at last we got a fair 
rake at his lioyal Highness and he neiver smiled 
AGAIN. I saw many handsome ladies on our 
inarch up the rich valley of Pennsylvania, and 
one of them told my companion, Tom Miller, who 
was feasting on her cherries in front of her resi- 
dence, on the Turnpike, that tlie Yankees would 
bury liim beneath the waves of the Juniata river 
for stealing her cherries. But Tom replied, 
laughingly, "It takes, madam, several to play at 
that little game"— he was not insulting at all. I 
took it as quite a good joke. A pair of game 
cocks near this house were fighting as my gun 
passed along when a comrade very quietly cap- 
tured them and tied a cord around their legs 
and threw tliem across the pummel of my saddle, 
and I did not object, for that night when we went 
in camp where His Royal Highness was picked 
and cooked, was not very hard for a liungiy sol- 
dier to swallow. The people, at least the farm- 
ers, live different from the people of old Vir- 
ginia—their bams are always the best looking 
houses, and their dwellings are very small and 
ugly-looking. Their bams, for the most part, 
are painted and their dwellings rough-looking, 
being built of stone and rocks. The first place 
of any note was the town of Greencastle, quite a 



26 Autoliograpliy of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

handsome place, too. At tliis place I drove a 
trade with a citizen for some butter, giving him 
a twenty-dollar greenback and he gave me in re- 
turn a ten-dollar Pennsylvania State note, which 
afterwards, to my surprise, proved to be woiili- 
less. 

This is a great country for apple butter and 
honey and in the times of peace I would not 
object to living in such a fertile and beautiful 
section of the United States as tliis Pennsylvania 
valley. We then passed through a diiiy and 
rather cut-throat looking village by the mountain 
side called Funkstown. But, strange to say, 
this was a great place for the manufacture of 
essence of peppermint and sassafras oils and 
different drugs and medicines. I made a small 
purchase of this peppermint from the proprietor 
or manufacturer. His name was Doctor Stone- 
braker (I think these two names, Funkstown and 
Stonebraker is enough to breali a man's jaw). 
Dr. S. was rather an ugly looking^old Dutchman, 
but, I must say, however, he was very polite and 
was rather a jolly old fellow after all. He re- 
marked that General Lee's soldiers looked like 
they knew how to fight. He also remarked on 
their good behavior. Near this point I was sent 
out to forage for our commander I was fur- 
nished witli an army wagon drawn by four 



Autobiography of Andrew JacJcson Andrews. 27 

splendid innles and an experienced teamster 
and four light dragoons aimed with six-shooters 
and carbines slung across their backs and sabres. 
I foraged mostly for provisions for the com- 
pany, and in many instances I was compelled to 
demand them of the citizens, as they refused to 
sell, and I told tJiem I would take the same by 
force if they refused, and when it came to that 
they succumbed. I always, in such instances, 
jiaid them an outrageous price to show that we 
did not wish to rob them. They seemed, how- 
ever, much pleased at the large amounts I paid 
them. Greenbacks were furnished me by the 
government for the pui*pose which, of course, 
was a legal tender for everything in that section 
of the countiy. They would turn tlieir noses up 
at Confederate money, which was perfectly nat- 
ural. Many of the old farmers ' wives were very 
tart and sharj^, but old soldiers did not mind the 
growls of human beings when they got hungiy, 
esi^ecially when, the war was carried into Egj^pt. 
They then experienced how onr poor mothers 
and fathers felt when their cavalry carried waste 
and destruction in the various homes of the Old 
Dominion and other States in the South. This 
thing, dear reader, you call war is very easy to 
read about, but when one comes to realize it it 
is an awful thing, and may I never again expe- 



28 Autohiograpluj of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

rience auotlier civil war among Americans, 
which is disgraceful, io say the least. Well, 
soon after this foi'agiug expedition, which was 
a very successful one, tlie battle of Gettysburg, 
Pemisylvania, ensued, and it was of a naost gi- 
gantic nature. But I am little too fast. Before 
this great encounter the city of Carlisle, where 
the U. S. Barracks and magazines and U. S. Ar- 
senal were destroyed by our forces by a maraud- 
ing party. The town was nearly wiped out by 
fire. This very much tenified the citizens, and 
they could hardly realize what was going on, but 
tlie thunders of our giins gave these people to 
understand that the bronze-faced sons of Dixie 's 
Land were getting a little revenge. Their 
screams were pitiful, but that did not shock thei 
nerves of Confederate soldiers, whose parents 
had suffered in the same way by Federal sol- 
diers. And just here I would remark "That 
revenge is sweet." As we captured many fine 
horses and many of ours being crippled, we 
hitched these fresh animals to our wagons to 
rest our own. Well, in a few days after the 
burning of Carlisle came the famous Gettysburg 
engagement. As our batteiy of ai'tillery was, dur- 
ing the march, near the rear guard, I did not par- 
ticipate in the commencement on the evening of 
the first, and when we were in ten miles of the 



Autohiograpliij of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 29 

battlegi-ounds we could hear the booming of can- 
non, which echoed to us that that great battle 
had commenced. Before we got up that evening 
our forces had driven the enemy from the Gettys- 
burg Heights and were master of the field, but, 
strange to say, were foolish enough not to follow 
ui) their victory as on many other occasions, viz. : 
Bull liuu, and many other places. And just 
here let me say from this very neglect not to 
follow up this first evening's victory was the 
main cause of our army's defeat, as the enemy 
entrenched themselves on the strong hills north 
of Gettysburg, and made a stand. Those heights 
should have been held by us, and the day would 
have been ours just as sure as I am writing about 
the encounter. Although I was a private sol- 
dier I have an eagle's eye, and did not ask any 
man to tell me about the advantage of position, 
but before they entrenched themselves they 
would have never done so until their flying col- 
umns were reinforced by General Hancock's Di- 
vision. 

On the morning of the second my battery was 
stationed at ot near Cemetery Kidge, near Get- 
t\'sburg cemetery. It was on the left wing of 
our artillery corps. 

The engagement commenced early, and at a 
signal, or fire by battery, our entire line of artil- 



30 Autohiograpliy of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

lery opened upon the enemy, and at the same 
time onr infantiy advanced in solid columns 
against the enemy's breastworks. 

General Armistead 's Division bore a very con- 
spicuous part in this engagement. The General 
led his gallant men up tO' the muzzles of the 
enemy's cannons in person. A hand-to-hand 
engagement with the infantry came off, and the 
thundering of three hundred field pieces on the 
Confederate side, and many more on the 
enemy's, made one thinlv that heaven and earth 
were coming together, and it was hard to dis- 
tinguish friend from foe. We could at one time 
distinguish the enemy only from the flash of 
their guns, which looked like one long stream of 
lightning. The whole earth shook as if under the 
convulsions of an earthquake. The groans of 
the dying were awful to listen to^ ; the shrieks of 
tlie wounded; the roar of aiiilleiy; the keen 
cracks of the rifle and infantiy were a sight, 
dear reader, to behold. Although this was a field 
of death and destruction, it was grand to behold, 
and the soenei-y high abo^^e my most humble 
description. I saw at one place one regiment of 
our infantry lying stiff in death. They were 
ambushed by a large force of Federals from a 
piece of woods to our extreme right. But soon 
our men retaliated, for our guns both from artil- 



Autohio(jrai)hy of Andrew JacJcson Andrews. 31 

lery and infantiy, poured forth their most deadly 
missiles, aud, I can assure you, over two thou- 
sand five hundred of the enemy bit tlie dust to 
pay for their smartness. The gi"ound was liter- 
ally strewn with their dead. This was a dearly 
bought victory for the enemy, and a disastrous 
blow to us, in a measure, from the fact they had 
the advantage of position. I had two horses 
killed here and was wounded. It was here that 
I was compelled to relieve a dead Federal soldier 
of his new pants, as I was nearly naked, but, dear 
reader, I had the charity to put mine on him, 
but this was through respect, as it did him no 
good, as the poor fellow was as dead as a rock. 
The enemy was badly crippled, as they could not 
follow up their victory. Our Sergeant, a most 
estimable gentleman, was wounded here, and 
af tenvards died, and his last words were : ' ' Oh, 
Jack, if I had a canteen full of hydrant water. ' ' 
He was placed in a barn, and a few hours after- 
wards died. 

I had tlie misfortune! to be captured in this 
fight. I w^as sent back to the wagon train with 
the sick and wounded, some three days after the 
main fight, 1>ut would have never been captured 
had it not been for the cowardice of Brig.-Gen. 
Jones' Noi"th Carolina Cavaliy, who ran as fast 
as they could and did not i^retend to save the 



32 Autohiograpliij of Andrew JacJcson Andrews 

wagon-train, although General Jones was a 
bra,ve man and tided to rally his men, but there 
was no fight in such vagabonds; they did not 
attempt to sa,ve us, but ran like sheep. 

A part of General Bradley T. Johnston 's com- 
mand was there and fought, but the enemy's 
cavaliy outnumbered them. Bradley Johnston's 
men fought like thunder, and if those cowardly 
cavalrymen of General Jones ' had half-way done 
their duty we would have never been captured. 
When the enemy came upon our wagon-train 
quite an interesting scene took place just at this 
point. One of the enemy's cavaliymen came 
thundering up with drawn sabre, threw it in 
front of a wagon driver named Sam Liggon, of 
Eichmond, Va., and demanded him to surrender, 
whereupon Sam asked the horseman to what 
command he belonged. 

' ' First Virginia, ' ' says the horseman. 

"So do I," says Samuel, "and what the 
Devil's the matter with you?" 

"But, sir," says the inveterate Dragoon, "I 
belong to the First Virginia United States 
Army, and if you don't stop those mules I'll 
make daylight shine through you." 

Sam said, very pitifully, "Who-ho, Jinny." 

"You had better stop, young man, for you 
don't belong to old Jeff, now." 



Autobiography of Andreiv JacTcson Andrews. 33 

''Sol see, ' ' says Saimny. 

I had nO' side arms or weapons of any kind, 
not even a pocket knife, or weapon of defense of 
any nature, or I could have killed the Federal 
Dragoon with ease, as he did not see me for some 
time afterwards, and when he discovered I was 
wounded ordered me in the v^a'gon and I obeyed. 
We were soon surrounded by the enemy's cav- 
alry, wliO' came up as thick a,s black birds. Their 
command was that of Major-General Kautz's 
Division of Cavaliy. There were three thousand 
of the enemy's cavaliy. They captured from us 
on this occasion over sixteen hundred prisoners 
of wai', and an entire wagon-train containing 
sick and wounded soldiers, baggage, provisions, 
and army equipments. Tliis was very galling 
for me to be a prisoner of war. Hard, hard, in- 
deed, was it to swallow. 

T'O' get on with my story, we were escorted 
under strong guard thi'ough the mountain forges, 
and on our second day's tiamp or march, our 
cavalry (Confederate) having heard we were 
captured, endeavored to retake us, and they came 
very near doing so, too', as they had a brisk en- 
counter with the enemy in a mountainous county 
on the line between Pennsylvania and Mary- 
land, and it was nip and cut which would con- 
quer. At last we were well satisfied that our 



3-i Autohiograpliy of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

side was giving tliem all tliey wanted, as they 
mounted all the prisoners on mules and horses 
and filled the wagons as full as they could be 
gotten, and of all skedaddling you ever saw in 
your life it beaL all whip and spur to get under 
their infantiy guard as the Confederate Cavaliy 
was in hot pursuit and had driven them so close 
that their shots came whistling in onr midst and 
came near killing some of us prisoners. The 
farmers were veiy watcliful in guiding the 
enemy and making known to the Federal Cav- 
alry all of our movements. They could be seen 
coming ont from different roads and paths 
through the dense woods pointing the different 
and best routes for their fleeing columns to es- 
cape with their prisoners and booty. And by 
long and tiresome marches they finally landed us 
safely with the infantry of Greneral Wilson, who 
had his remnant of army reinforced at or near 
a place called Middle or Millboro, the exact name 
I do not remember. 

There we were placed in cars and shipped 
under strong guard to the city of Baltimore, 
Maryland. Wlien we arrived at Baltimore the 
prisoners were stoned by some low-lived citizens 
who had the cowai'dice and brass to jierform 
such a job to a lot of helpless and defenceless 
prisoners of war. This I shall never forget or 



Autohiography of Andrew Jaclson Andrews. 35 

forgive as long as time lasts. We were then es- 
corted to Fort Federal Hill and placed under a 
fresh guard. There we were kept many days 
and many citizens in hacks and other vehicles 
came down to the fort to see us live rebels. We 
were then placed on board an ugly-looking 
steamship called the Ashland. (By the way, she 
now plys between Richmond and Philadelphia 
as a freight steamer.) There were so many on 
board this vessel that great numbers died from 
suffocation or for want of pure air, as the hatches 
of the vessel were closed, which was cruel in the 
extreme. Although I was going to a prison it 
was really a pleasure to get rid of that dirty and 
awful and highly perfumed ship, for of all filthy 
places that ship beat all I ever saw in my life, 
and I do not wish to ever again know such a 
place, although I will go on to show that the 
prison barracks at Fort Delaware were equal, if 
not worse. There I remained through a most 
awful, hot, broiling summer. This ])rison is 
on an island which is made land, and after a 
rain one of the muddiest ]ilaces on (jod's green 
earth. Thousands of us had tO' niarcli through 
this mud daily to our so-called meals of salt pork 
and bean soup that were enough to make a dog 
vomit, and a very small quantit}^, too, dear 
reader. I have seen men actually die from star- 



36 Autohiograpliy of Andrew Jaclcson Andrews. 

vation before they would continue to eat this 
stuff daily dealt out to us to fill our empty 
stomachs, and many a day have I gone hungry 
for the lack of propeir nourishment. 

I had the nerve one day to evade the guard at 
the sally port of the fort and thereby gained ad- 
mic'sion to' Major-General Scheapp's office, who 
then commanded the fort. He seemed somewhat 
surprised at first on seeing me in his presence, 
but I soon narrated to liim how I caught the 
guard a,-napping and gained entrance. He then 
imprisoned the guard and asked me my busi- 
ness. I soon made known my wants. 

"General," says I, "I have been here now 
eight months and am nearl}^ dead from sickness 
and starvation, and I want you please to grant 
me a parole to^ take fresh air outside of the prison 
barracks, and it will same my life, as I do not 
wish to die in such a }>lace as those barracks." 

' ' He then looked at me steadily and remarked, 
' ' I grant your request young Eebcl, but, remem- 
ber, if you endeavor to effect your escape from 
the island, you will be shot." 

''All right. General," Says I, "You will never 
have the ] deasure. ' ' 

I was very glad to obtain this pass or parole, 
I may say, and by this means I helped many and 
many a poor comrade by purchasing for them 



Autohiograpliy of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 37 

eatii,bles at tlio Sutler's shop near the foit, and 
a great many of them gave me a portion to keep 
me from starving, for it was impossible for me 
"to go" hard tack for breakfast, dinner, and 
supper every day. In winter it was not so hard 
to eat the same diet every day. 

Yes, reader, it is this that killed so many of 
our prisoners. The best army surgeons says so, 
as it produces scurvy, scourge, and eruption of 
the blood, and death soon ensues in consequence 
of various diseases contracted therefrom. I have 
seen hundreds die daily at one sickly period dur- 
ing my prison life at Fort Delaware. The ver- 
min or body lice played sad havoc amongst the 
soldiers in the main prison barracks. I have 
caught as high as one hundred and eighty a day 
from my clothing. All kinds of diseases were 
prevalent at this place, such as small-pox, scurvy, 
black ear, scarlet fever, blue legs, and swol- 
len ankles, arising froin tramping through the 
blue mud and many other loathsoime diseases I 
do not care to mention, and many a poor fellow 
have I seen buried in undressed board boxes (not 
coffins) and their bones are now bleaching under 
the pines of the State of Delaware on a long 
sand beach, and many a Southern mother, sister, 
or sweetheart may find their darlings buried on 



38 Autobiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

that lonely, God-foisakon place of dead man's 
bones. 

They say that necessity is tlie "mother of in- 
vention." Now, dear reader, that must be so, 
for suppose I tell you that on many occasions 
have men made their escape! from this loathsome 
place and prison hell by sneaking away at night 
from the dead house in these coffins intended to 
buiy the dead next day and ventured across the 
wide Delaware bay, wliich many did, and made 
good their escape. Some of them were strong 
enough to swim across, which is a distance of 
three miles from the fort to the main land, so I 
am told, although I do not know the exact dis- 
tance myself; anyhow, I never thought I was 
capable of crossing the Rubicon, for it would 
have been folly in me as I was sO' emaciated from 
piison-life. However, I do not think over fortj^ 
odd ever made their escape in tliis manner out 
of twenty thousand prisoners confined there 
during my prison-life, as extra guard were put 
around the entire island not ten feet apart, so as 
to make escape next to impossible. 

After so many deaths amongst the prisoners 
of war it became prevalent that the men were on 
the eve of making a rush for liberty and capture 
the fort and thereby gain possession of the guns, 
but this would have been death itself, for when 



Autohiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 39 

tliese facts became known to the prison officials 
the guns of tlie fort were double-shotted and a 
fleet of gain-boats surrounded the island in a few 
day, and two batteries of artillery were sent out- 
side of the fort, loaded with grape and cannister, 
which would have subdued or murdered the last 
man of us, had an uprisiug taken place amongst 
our poor, helpless soldiers. 

I ha,ve seen many outrageous acts committed 
by the Federal soldiers during my prison-life 
North. Such as bayonetting prisoners, hand- 
cuffing them, and tying them up by their thumbs 
and such like shameful acts, wliich were barbar- 
ous in the extreme to prisoners of war, who were 
as helpless as turtle doves or carrier pigeons. 

Now, dear reader, after being confined here 
I was transferred to Point Lookout prison, at 
the mouth of the Potomac river on the Chesa- 
peake Bay. This is a healthy locality, and Point 
Lookout, in days of peace, is really a first-class 
watering place during the heated term. And to 
give the devil his due I cannot justly comiDlain 
of my treatment at this prison. I was allowed 
to correspond with my friends and relatives in 
the South, and some distant relatives of my 
wife's in the North, and by politeness I was ]3ut 
in charge of the baggage department at this 
place, and also the bath rooms for the sick pris- 



40 Autohiogra'pliy of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

oners, and, I assure you, that I kept clean if 1 
did nothing else. 

It was heire tliat I first saw the notorious 
Major-General Benjamin P. Butler, of New Or- 
leans' notoriety. He visited the prison one day 
and ordered clean clothing for the soldiers and 
some provisions for the prisoners whoi were con- 
fined there in beds from diseases and gunshot 
wounds, and, I must say, after this kind treat- 
ment, I fonned a good or better opinion of Gen- 
eral Ben. And ho was not regarded after this 
soldier-like act as being one of the meanest men 
in tlie country, for he soothed and comforted 
many an aching heart and hungiy stomach and 
clad many a naked Confederate soldier by this 
grand manoeuvre of his. Whether it was to gain 
popularity or not amongst us I cannot tell. And 
whether or no this man, after this act, ever com- 
mitted the barbarous acts he was accused of at 
New Orleans is a matter of history, and it seems 
strange he could commit such unsoldier-like acts 
after his kindness to prisoners of war at the 
Point Lookout prison barracks, to wliich the 
writer was an eye witness, having been confined 
there for a long time. I have now said enough 
concerning General Butler for the present. 

I saw a most gallant act at an escape made by 
a Louisiana captain and his brother, of Shreve- 



Autobiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 41 

port, Louisiana, who were prisoners of war with 
me. On a dark, snowy night those brave men 
waded u]) to their necks out in the l>ay and 
walked up to coast three miles above, and after 
all, caane out on the outer guard, who captured 
them and brought them back to tlie prison bar- 
racks, where I was then confined. They were 
nearly dead. Their teeth chattered from the ex- 
treme cold and hazardous perfonnance they had 
ventured uiion. They were allowed dry cloth- 
ing, but were, however, tied up by their thumbs 
until they fainted. This punishment was meted 
out to those for endeavoring to make their escape 
from prison. Yes, it was hard, indeed, to see 
those gallant brothers of ours used in such a 
cruel and heathen-like manner, but such, dear 
reader, is the fate of a cruel war like ours, to 
sjoeak of it in as mild and balmy a manner as 
you can possibly request. 

I here remained for several months when I 
was exchanged. I was much elated when I 
reached good old Kiclmiond and kissed the 
"earth," and after paying my due respects to 
friends and to my sweetheari, now my present 
wife, I embarked on a trip to visit my dear old 
parents in Gloucester county, Va., as I had a 
]>risoners' parole furlough. You may judge how 
long I had been absent from my native county 



42 Autobiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

and parental roof, for when I entered the resi- 
dence my old father did not know me. The old 
gentleman, who is now dead, said, ' ' Good morn- 
ing, sir; what \vill yon haver' 

At last I brought a hacking cough, which was 
a habit from boyhood days, and he said exulting, 
' ' Dear wife, it is our son Jack ! IMy son ! my son ! 
is tills our boy "] May tlie Lord ha.ve mercy if it 
isn't really our Jack," and now, dear reader, I 
was overjoyed to see my aged parents once more 
on this earth, for after encountering so many 
hardships I really never expected to again, but 
surely there is a Divinity that shapes our ends, 
and I felt that Richard was himself again. 

You may now imagine what kindness was 
shown me, as the neighbors all called on me who 
knew me from childhood, and the good country 
meals that were spread before me in abundance 
made me soon forget all about the privations of 
a soldiers' life. But this treat did not last very 
long, for I was informed that the enemy was 
coming in force up York river, and my father's 
old true and trusty servant, well known as 
Uncle Moses, an experienced oystennan, told 
me I would again be captured if I did not con- 
ceal myself at once, which I did, for I knew 
what a ]>risonor's life was, and I made up my 
mind not to go there again alive. The enemy 



Autohiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 43 

was S€^eii to land a large force of Light Dragoons 
at a landing on the river called Purtain, and 
they sconred the entire county for horses, cattle, 
and plunder of every description. They then 
came to my father's residence and killed all the 
fowls in the yard, and insulted my poor, old 
parents, who conld not protect themselves. My 
father had a fine mule ; his name was Dixie, and 
when my father heard of the approaching enemy 
he ordered the mule to be concealed in a jiiece 
of pine woods close by the main dwelling, and 
as the Federal horsemen came up some of their 
horses commenced to neigh, and immediately 
the foolish mule followed suit by belching forth 
his most royal bray, and it seemed he would 
never stop, either. He was soon taken charge of 
by the enemy, and two of them mounted him, 
and as he was very stubborn, commenced to 
kick and pitch. He finally threw both of them 
almost senseless to the ground, and strained off. 
They did not follow him up, but father was close 
enough to hear one of them remark, "Let liim 
go, as he is nothing but a damned old secesh 
mule, anyhow," and they did not molest Mr. 
Mule again, and soon passed ont of sight. They 
even took the hens that were on their nests, and 
broke up all my mother's crockery, drank all the 
sweet milk, and sour milk they threw away. 



44 Autobiography of Andreio Jachson Andrews. 

theu broke the milk-pj^ns. I swoie vengeance 
after tliis. 

After tlieir departure I came from the woods, 
where I w^as concealed at a distance, and went in 
the honse as soon as I thought it prudent tO' do 
so, and how terribly mad I was, but I could do 
nothing, as I was on parole, and it would have 
been folly in the extreme for me to have shown 
fight to over three or four mounted horsemen, 
and as the enemy was continually hovering 
around the upper part of the eountiy I did not 
deem it prudent to remain at home any longer, 
and, therefore, did not have the extreme i>leasure 
of spending my furlough at my old country 
home. I took leave of my parents. It was sad 
to part, and it makes my veiy heart ache to re- 
call such unpleasant recollections of the past, 
but I made myself rather contented by saying, 
"Such is the fate of war." I fonnd it to be a 
hard time getting back to the city of Richmond, 
for whilst going up the Yo^rk river, in an open 
boat, I was fired at several times by a veiy long, 
black, rakish-looking gunboat of the enemy that 
came steaming up at full speed, and was patrol- 
ing the river. It was near four o'clock, and it 
was a sad sight to see notMng whatever on this 
beautiful stream of salt water but that lone gun- 
boat tliat was seeking whom they might devour. 



AutoUogmpliy of Andrew Jaclcson Andrews. 45 

and they came very near gobbling me up, for it 
was cabn and I pulled my boat across on the 
King and Queen side, and as I entered Hockings 
creek a broadside was fired at me. The shells 
flew all around me; I then jumped out of the 
boat into the creek, swam across the creek, and as 
I started to get out the place was very muddy 
and both of my boots held fast. I pulled and 
left them, and tlicy are there yet I presume, as 
I never went back to look for them. I then ran 
with full speed across a marsh covered with 
short porcupine undergrowth, and as I had notli- 
ing but my stockings on my feet were torn and 
literally cut to pieces and bled profusely. Oh, 
how it did hurt me, and as I had to run over five 
hundred yards one can imagine the exciniciating 
pain I endured. The enemy kei)t a constant fire 
at me, but their shells went in several feet harm- 
lessly by, and, I can assure you, much to my 
hearty approval, as one of them came almost too 
near for good luck. I soon got to^ the woods, and 
they found out I liad gotten the best of them, 
ceased firing, and returned down the river again 
at full speed, as it was then getting i>retty near 
sundown. I roared like a lion when I halted and 
swore to have some revenge for this. I made 
for the first farm house I came across. The kind- 
hearted landlord, after finding I was a Confed- 



46 Autohiography of Andrew Jachson Andrews. 

erate soldier, wliieli was a rare siglit down there, 
was remarkably polite, and after I related my 
adventure with the gunboat they did all they 
could for me. I dressed my feet and they gave 
me a pair of thick knit countiy socks and a pair 
of second-hand shoes, and, after partaking of 
food and a night's lodging, early next moiTiing 
I pointed my nose towards old Kichmond. I 
crossed the Pamunky river, or should have said 
Mattaponi river, above West Point, and soon 
walked through King William. I then crossed 
at the White House on the Pamunky and walked 
up the York river railroad, a long, dreaiy trip 
it was, too, to Richmond. I then called upon 
several friends in the city and after getting new 
clothing I soon again joined my old command, 
the Third Company of Richmond Howitzers, in 
front of the city on the Nine Mile road. 

All of the boys were very glad to see Jack 
once more and I to see them, also, for it was a 
real pleasure to again be with my old compan- 
ions in anns and brothers in peril. The first 
night wliilst in cam]> I narrated to them my 
prison life and found it almost next to impossible 
to get through ever answering questions. I had 
been a prisoner so long that at first I was some- 
what green on a drill, but I soon became familiar 
with the handling of the cannon, and it was not 



Autobiography of Andrew JacJcson Andrews. 47 

long- before I could sight a, piece and drill as well 
as ever. It was but a few days, however, befoTe 
we broke canip aud marched out again to meet 
our old enemies, the persistent soldiers of Uncle 
Sam, at a place called Laurel Hill Church, and 
very near to Dr. Farrar's residence. We whipped 
the enemy here, and captured many negro pris- 
oners, and I must say a very disgraceful occur- 
rence happened here. A member of a Texas 
regiment had his brother killed that morning, 
and when we had taken some of them prisoners, 
he, the Texas man, commenced to retaliate, or, in 
other words, avenge his brother's death by 
shooting prisoners down in cold blood. He suc- 
ceeded in killing four before he was checked. 
The fifth man made good his escape, although 
volleys were fired at this yellow-faced Ohio 
negro as he screamed and yelled, and of all lim- 
ning this sight did beat all I ever heard of or 
saw during my entire campaign. I thought this 
was rather cowardly, as prisoners were helpless, 
and most deeply did I condemn such an act. I 
called this deliberate murder, but as I might be 
condemned for so freely speaking my open and 
candid oi)inion aliout the killing of an enemy I 
leave this subject for the reader to say whether 
or not I am justified in making the above asser- 
tions^ but to make matters smooth and congenial 



48 Autobiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

to all interested that such, dear friends, is the 
fate of a ruthless war. 

AVe began to eLXiJorieiiee tlie Iioitots of this 
gigantic straggle between father and connec- 
tions as was carried on during tliis grand fan- 
faronade of ours. The good Lord knows there 
were at times such sights seen and such barbar- 
ous acts committed on both sides, C-onfederate 
and Federal, that it was enough to melt the heart 
of a Durham bull, a jackall, or hyena. 

But I now pause and will infoiin you that in 
a few days a veiy large force of the enemy, 
mostly negroes, attacked Battery Harrison on 
onr right wing. They advanced in solid column 
across an open field and were as numerous as 
black birds in a bairley field. They were rather 
good looking, too, for negro soldiers, as they ad- 
vanced in a solid phalanx in their new blue uni- 
foinis and white cross belts, but they were not 
handsome enough to come into the fort, and this 
is similar to tlie old adage, which goes as fol- 
lows : 

"Is dat you, Sam? 

No. 'Tis Jim ; 

Well, you'se very good lookin', 

But you can't come in," 



Autobiography of Andrew Jaclcson Andrews. -19 

Yes, kind reader, it was here that the notorious 
big bald-headed negro, bettor known as Corporal 
Dick, to the soldiers of General R. E. Lee's anny. 
Yes, Dick was a game kind of a nigger, and his 
boldness was well worthy of a better cause Uian 
his effoi-ts to murder Soiithem people. He led 
his command and fell at its head, climbing the 
breastworks at Battery Harrison pierced by 
l7ayonets from onr bravo boys who nobly de- 
fended that foil; that day. Our artillery played 
havoc amongst General Butler's colored soldiers 
on this occasion. I think I saw over seventy-five 
thrown down an old well, close by the fort, at 
one time. This well was a common grave for 
those unfortunate bands of enemies of ours, and 
it would have paid them much better to have 
been employed on some good fann than to stand 
in front of the ranks of Confederate game chick- 
ens to be slain as common fiends and their re- 
mains to be scattered as chaff before a wind. 
This was the first time I ever saw a can of con- 
densed milk, dear reader. After the fight I, to- 
gether with two of my comra:des, walked in front 
of Battery Harrison and gathered up various 
relics from the battlefield. I packed up a can 
and read as follows: "Borden's Condensed 
Mtl^/' I opened and tasted it. I fonnd it very 
palatable, indeed, and so-much-so that a conple 



50 Autobiography of Andreiu JacJcson Andrews. 

of us swallowed the contents of a can in much 
less time than it would have taken for an ordi- 
naiy milkman to milk a cow that would only give 
one quart at a time. After this our battery was 
but in few engagements, foT during this end of 
the campaign I was taken with a severe attack 
of intermittent fever and was very ill at home, 
for I was at tlie end of the war married and 
called my wife's home my own. When the Fed- 
eral troops entered the city the gunboats were 
blown up in the James and the explosion caused 
the very face of the earth to^ shake, the windows 
in our house being nearly shaken out. The 
bridges that span the James leading to the town 
of Manchester just opposite were burned by our 
own soldiei's, and a good many houses or a 
greater part of Main street was burned to the 
ground, also. These were remorseless times, 
but as I was an old soldier, did not wonder at 
any awful thing that happened in these teriible 
days. I was held up in bed long enough in my 
feeble condition by Colonel Elijah Warren, my 
wife's uncle, at the front window facing Broad 
street, to witness the enemy's cavalry come up 
Church Hill. They passed by our residence and 
looked up at us, but said or did nothing as they 
went galloping by on their fiery chargers. The 
city was very soon under Federal bayonets and 



Autohiograpliy of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 51 

under maii:ia,l law. I never again joined my 
command, for veiy soon during my sickness 
news came to us that General Lee, with the rem- 
nant of his most noble army of brave men, had 
surrendered at the county seat of Appomattox, 
not a great distance from the city of Lynchburg, 
Va., to General U. S. Grant, to a force four times 
as large. I was deeply sorry that I was not at 
the surrender. As I was at the beginning of 
this great contest between the States I should 
have liked very much to^ have been at its end. 
Although some old soldiers told me aftei^ards 
that I ought to be glad that I was not able to 
be there as it was a sad sight and an awful gall- 
ing piece of business to see our old veterans lay 
down their arms forever after such brave ex- 
ploits in the defense of a land they could not 
save from capture. One old veteran said it was 
far worse than fighting. Well, I should think so, 
dear reader, for here the days of General Lee 
ended. The lightnings may flash and the loud 
cannons rattle, but no sounds can awaken him 
to glory again, for here General Lee was dead 
forever, although his name will be cherished by 
his heart-stricken countiyraen for generations to 
come, and all old Southern veterans who sei-^^ed 
with General Lee can point with pride to his gal- 
lant deeds and gentlemanly manners to rank 



52 Autohiograpliij of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

and file tliat were under him during the war, and 
I believe, dear reader, at this veiy day that the 
Federal soldiers reverenced and respected this 
great and glorious man, and America should be 
proud of such a man, as I do not begin to think 
that George Washington was his superior in any 
way, shape, or form, and if General Lee; had 
been supplied with sufficient provisions as were 
really required, those Yankees would have been 
whipped horse, foot, and dragoon. Nothing 
but bread and meat whipped us, and not the 
lack of game, dear reader, and let me now and 
forever impress this on your minds, that yon 
may tell your children that this is the expe- 
rience of one of General Kobei-t E. Lee's old sol- 
diers, who did all he could for his native State 
as an humble private, as I did not fight for glory 
and gain, but for my country's rights, but 
whether I am condenmed for fighting against the 
Federal Union I feel that I have no regrets, 
and my motto is war and ever shall be 
right or wrong my country, I mean, my State. 

This was about all my experience as a Confed- 
erate soldier, and as I am not ashamed of what 
I did during those long and dreary days of the 
late war, I cannot help looking back with pride 
at what T did in the defence of my own, my na- 
tive land, Virginia, although when I entered the 



Autobiography of Andrew Jachson Andrews. 53 

aniiy I was a mere youtli of eighteen summers; 
and I return, thanks to Ahnighty Go<], for watch- 
ing over and sparing my life in these days of ter- 
ror, and, read reader, I am open and frank 
enough toi confess that I ain not half thankful 
enough to the great king above for sparing mo 
on so many occasions when I have seen others 
pass away as snow before the broiling sun, and 
I was spared, and how ungrateful I am, but war 
hardens the heart of man, I believe, and it seems 
to me that a man is stouter than all animals and 
can endure as many hardships as any living 
creature. 

After the war I became a merchant and have 
had many trials and tribulations arising from 
different speculations, and if I were to begin to 
narrate my different exploits in a business way 
it would fill, dear reader, a volume much larger 
than Shakespeare, and up to this writing I am 
42 yea;rs of age, and am a father of five beauti- 
ful children. Two are twins, and although I have 
to work very hard, I am as happy and contented 
with my lot in life as man can be, and I now, 
kind reader, leave you to ponder for a moment 
and ask you, were you in my place, would you 
be ashamed of having been a good old Confed- 
erate soldier, and wonld you be afraid to make 
it known to all mankind that you were not afraid 



54 Autohiography of Andrew Jackson Andreivs. 

to expose your breast and sacrifice your all in 
defence of the Southern States of America, and 
especially the State of States, old Virginia? 

AVith deepest and kindest regards I now close 
this brief, humble sketch of my boyhood days 
and experience as a soldier in the Army of North- 
ern Virginia during the late War between the 
States. 

I remain your fond and affectionate countiy- 
man, 

Andrew J. Andrews. 

A soldier in the Third Company of Eichmond 
Howitzers. 



Autohiographij of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 55 

A BRier EXPlzRICNCE APTER THE WAP. 



As I started, at first, to give a sl^etch of my 
life up to date, wliich, I hope, may not prove 
too lengtliy, dear reader, I will now give you 
i. very brief description of my numerous under- 
takings since the War Between the States, in 
private life, showing my various ups and downs. 
After the close of this national family quarrel I, 
as a married man, had several little folks tO' look 
after, and I first opened a, store in an army tent, 
at the intersection of Broad and Twenty-second 
streets. I had to first get a permit from the 
provost marshal, which I readily obtained, and 
as goods of every description were very high, 1 
could buy but little, or, in other words, but a 
scanty supply of goods at once. I did well, how- 
ever, in this tent until one night some enterpris- 
ing scamp, whilst my valiant clerk was asleep 
Cno doubt inebriated) stole all my goods at one 
time, stock, lock, and barrel. Now, says I, this 
is healthy business; what shall I do to get 
another start. This was my commencement of 
my ups and downs in mercantile life. I was 
jjlucky, however, and I borrowed a hundred or 
so dollars, and soon went to work again. I then 



56 Autobiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

built me a small wooden store, an outrageously 
common affair it was, too (by the way, it stands 
there yet, and is used a a carpenter's shop up to 
this writing, which bears date October 14, 1884, 
about midnight, writing this). I was very suc- 
ceissful for a while in this wooden shanty and 
gathered in many a dollar from the neighbor- 
hood and transient customers. My partner con- 
ducted the grocery trade for some time, and the 
finn was well known as West & Andrews. We 
carried on the retail grocery business tor sev- 
eral years very successfully and built up an ex- 
tensive credit, and as we were both very aspirant, 
stinick out in the wholesale grocery business, 
which proved very disastrous by giving too 
much credit and making reckless speculations 
and living too fast for good luck, and we both 
had large families, which we indulged very mucli. 
The consequence was we had to suspend busi- 
ness, which was veiy galling and mortifying to 
us indeed, as we were young, you may say. 

In mercantile life my fatlier. Captain William 
Andrews, of Gloucester county, Va., died soon 
afterwards. Then my only brother, a merchant 
doing business in Raleigh, N. C, died, also, and 
it seemed that misfortunes after misfortunes 
would buiy me alive. Still I would not suck my 
paws and knock under, for I made up my mind 



Autobiography of Andrew Jachson Andrews. 57 

that Jack, as everybody called nie, wo^uld not be 
classed witli loafers. I then struck o-ut for New 
York to seek employment, which I did, after a 
hard struggle. I lived with a first-class im- 
porter of fancy groceries, E. C. Hagard, 192 
Columbus street, and would have done well there 
but my good wife would be constantly writing 
me, "Jack, come home, New York will ruin 
yon." When, in fact, in was just to the con- 
trary, for it was, as I might term, a business 
school, for, kind reader, I learned more about 
business in one month in New York tJian I would 
elsewhere in four or five years. This New York 
is a monstrous place, and a body cannot tell any- 
thing about it by merely a short visit. I re- 
mained there for some time, and was 
there during tlie French War, and the 
house I was with sold large quantities of canned 
goods and potted provisions to the French gov- 
ernment. Plagard did a gigantic business, and at 
times was very clever, but as money was chiefly 
his God, he did not care much for any one except 
the Almighty Dollars he conld make, but such, 
however, is the rule with most wealthy Northern 
houses. I soon succumbed to the enticing letters 
from home and returned to Virginia and for a 
while remained inactive. However, I found out 
this would never do, for with a large family to 



58 Autobiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

suppoi-t, I soon found out this was a new begin- 
ning of war for bread and meat, and I at last 
struck out once more like an old race horse to 
battle with the world. I first did one thing then 
another, and ot all the various goods I dealt in 
would be a greater wonder than the curiosities 
in Noah's Ark. Sometimes I would make awful 
wild cat speculations. I would then again pur- 
chase goods too freely, and oh, ye saints, how the 
Yankee boys would come growling and a-squall- 
ing like hungry wolves. They at last found out 
I was cleverly disposed, and I got along some- 
what better with them. I have sold goods, as 
stated, of all descriptions and denominations all 
the way from a pound of tobacco to cars heavily 
laden witli Western grain and flour. I have 
handled as many goods as most men. I have 
seen days since the war that I have made as much 
as two hundred dollars in one day. Then again, 
from fondness of living and merry disposition, 
I would spend all I had at once and trust to luclc 
to get more. I have never yet since the war seen 
the day but what I had a dollar, notwithstanding 
I am a poor man with a veiy large family, and I 
have yet to see the day but that my family could 
enjoy and always have had three good square 
meals ever since my married life, which is a 
little more than most poor folks, heavily bur- 



Autobiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 59 

tlieiied as I am, can say, and I will wager one 
hundred dollars on what 1 say. I have had as 
high as twenty-five thonsand dollars from vari- 
ous speculations at one time. Then, again, I 
have seen my pile melt away as snow before the 
broiUng sun. I have seen days that my check 
was good for thousands, and I have seen days I 
could not raise twenty dollars. I have owned all 
kinds of propei-ty from a setter dog up to vessels 
that sail the briny deep. It has been my sad 
exjierience, dear reader, that a man never lacks 
for friends with full pockets, for just at that par- 
ticular time they are so very polite and more 
numerous than at others, and a man should al- 
ways have a few dollars about his old clotliing, 
it matters not whether the weather is fair or 
foul, although it is not an easy matter to always 
have matters as one would desire. 



A WILD GOOSE HUNT. 

As I have already stated in my commence- 
ment of this brief sketch of my boyhood, I was 
remarkably fond of hunting. I bought a small 
sloop, two tons burthen, about the fall of the 
year 1878 for the purpose of engaging in the 
oyster trade and other traffic on the various 
rivers on the Virginia coast. The craft was a 



60 Autobiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

handsome one, and altlioiigli small, was staunch 
and new, and 1 gave the snug little sum of two 
hundred and seventy five dollars for same. But 
to be very brief I, dear reader, did more sporting 
than work. On a bright clear winter's morning 
I stored up my gallant yacht with provisions of 
the best, consisting of canned meats, fruits, and 
a stock of choice liquoirs. I then got me a pilot 
and an experienced sailor to go on board with me 
to join me in my wild fowl hunt down the James 
river. The wind was fair and weather very fine, 
and very soon we came up on wild geese about 
forty miles below City Point. Just at tliis time 
the wind blew hard, and the river was very 
rough, and found it quite difficult to get in range 
of the geese. However, we soon came within 
range of a flock and the gun was a huge one, 
yes, the largest sporting gun I ever saw. I 
fired a shot from the port bow of the vessel and 
the report was as loud as ai cannon, and although 
the distance was far I crippled my goose ; I then 
went back to the cabin as fast as I could to re- 
load and just as I came on deck and was in tlie 
attitude of loaiding, the pilot said, "Mr. An 
drews look out, it is necessary to jibe the main- 
sail in order to come up quick on the crippled 
goose." I was so elated I paid no attention to 
what he, the pilot, had said, and lo and behold, 



Autohlography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 61 

I found myself knocked overboard. I was struck 
a stunning blow by the main bow as it came over 
and a most terrific gash did it make, too, on my 
forehead, and had I received such a blow on 
land I would have been knocked senseless, but I 
was knocked heacUong in the cold river and the 
icy water coimteracted the severe shock and as 
1 sunk very deep I soon arose with gun in hand. 
I ha,d on a large heavy overcoat and water-boots, 
and in order to save my life I let the gim go to 
the bottom, which was at least sixty feet deep ; 1 
then laid fiat on my back, as I was a good swim- 
mer, and hauled off my boots and overcoat The 
water was intensely cold, but all of a sudden 1 
thought of a fellow in New York having a policy 
on my life for three thousand dollars, and as T 
knew that my untimely death would be hailed 
with joy by the holder of said policy ; this buoyed 
me up, and says I to myself, that New Yorker 
won't have the pleasure of drinking champagne 
cocktails on the pi'oceeds of my misfortunes, and 
I became as athletic as a prize-fighter and as 
supple as a monkey, and although I was over a 
hundred and fifty yards in heavy waves, too, 1 
swam aboard of my yacht, Two Brothers, as fast 
as a canvassed back duck, believe mei, dear 
reader, or not, I walked one-half the distance 
with my body out of water ; in other words, what 



62 Autobiography of Andrew JacJcson Andrews. 

is termed nautically ' ' tread water. ' ' Tliere was 
swinging astern of the vessel a small life-boat 
and I was so waterlogged from heavy clothing 
that when I caught hold of it the boat filled with 
water and I then held fast, and caught hold 
of the cable and got alongside of the sloop, which 
was bobbing about in the heavy waves and head 
up in the wind and her sails flopping like an old 
duck in a thunder stonn. The reason of this 
was the pilot and sailor had become much fright- 
ened, and seeing me sink, ran in the cabin 
screaming and left the vessel to wrestle at will 
with the heavy waves. When I graj^pled the 
small boat I yelled for help at the top of my 
voice, when up sprang Gentry, the pilot, ''My 
God," says he, "Mr. Andrews is that you!" 

' ' Of course, you fool, who else could it be but 
me; help me at once." 

Out bounced the otlier man who w^as my wife's 
cousin, and they both grabbed me back of my 
neck and one arm and hauled me in. I was much 
exhausted, and I do not ever care again to re- 
peat the dose for that i(nld goose got the best of 
that frolic, and don't you forget it. A'fter T got 
aboard I could hear his majesty ejaculate in his 
most broad wild goose yell, 'vKouk, Kouk, 
Koug," and the young wild ducks scream, 
'^Skafe! Skafe!! Skafe!!!" and George, says I, 



Autohiographi/ of Andrew Jaclcson Andrews. G3 

and ' ' Narrow escape for Jack. ' ' I then went in 
the cabin and changed my clothing and took 
quite a slug of old lye whiskey, which, by the 
way, was veiy fine, and came in finely, indeed. 
There was a splendid fire in the cabin and I 
soon became comfortable and it was not many 
hours before Ivichard was himself again. I had 
on my person some four hundred dollars in 
greenbacks, which, from being badly soaked, 
were terribly mutilated, and I had to be verj^ 
cautious in unrolling them to prevent a total 
loss. I, however, succeeded in drying them be- 
fore the fire, a.lthoug*th some of the notes were so 
badly mutilated after they became dry that I 
lost some of them. This goose hunt came near 
costing me not only much money, but my life, 
Although I was a wild and reckless kind of a 
man, that night after everything quieted down 
I gave thanks to the Almighty above for sparing 
me from a watery grave, and I can never be too 
thankful to Him that wills and directs the affairs 
of man, notwithstanding I had been through a 
long and bloody war and had seen death in every 
shape, manner, and form, and had met with 
hairbreadth esca]>es over and over again, but 
never did I meet with such a close one as I did 
on this long-to'-be-remembered ^'wild goose 
hunt, ' ' for surely it was one in every sense of the 



64 Autohiographij of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

word. I then proceeded to Norfolk, and whilst 
there purchased a cargo of mackerel and cod- 
fish from a Boston trader, and then retnnaed to 
Richmond. I soon became so disgusted with 
this vessel business that very soon afterwards I 
sold her for about one-third the original cost, 
and have not been on a wUd goose hunt since. 

A VOYAGE ON THE OCEAN STEAMSHIP 

MANHATTAN AND A TERRIBLE 

STORM, OR CYCLONE. 

Well, reader, the old saying is quite a true 
one, tliat if a man ever starts to sail once he will 
want to sail and be on the water even if he has 
to sail the same as Captain Kidd did, but, how- 
ever, I am not that kind of a rosebud, and my 
experience on the water goes to show veiy 
plainly that I was soon cured of the water life, 
which this voyage to New York and return will 
show. Our good ship, the iron screw propeller 
Manhattan, Captain Kelley commanding, left 
her moorings on her usual trip to New York, I 
think, just before Christmas, 1882, when we first 
started. It seemed toi be an omen of bad luck, 
as in turning the sliij^ around from the dock to 
get in the main channel she was grounded, and 
it took two steam tugs over three hours to get 



Atitohiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 65 

her off. I came very near, as I was close to the 
wharf, of returning home again, as I remarked 
to several passengers this is just my luck, and, 
mark yon, ive are going to have a Jmrd time of it, 
and I will go to shore. Soon it came veiy true 
Nonsense, says a friend, man alive, don't l>e so 
superstitions. Never mind, says I, you will see 
what I say is so. Well, after jerking, puffing, 
and hard thugs and wrenching, our gallant 
steamer was very soon gliding down the noble 
James. The sceneiy during the winter down 
this river is not very pleasing to the eye and 
nothing worth noting can be seen but marks 
wliere once stood breastworks and port holes 
during the late War Between the States, and the 
most noted place along the river is Dutch Gap, or 
better known as Ben. Butler's Ditch. It outs off 
a considerable number of miles coming through 
that particular bend in the river and at that 
season of the year the beautiful foliage along the 
banks of the river is withered by the chilly blasts 
of winter and nothing but tall pines or naked 
bushes or frosted marsh grass greets the eye- 
sight. However, I did not fail in going down 
the river to be very particular in pointing out 
to a fellow-passenger on the steamer tlie noted 
place where I had that celebrated icild goose 
hunt of mine. I narrated it to him, which 



66 Aidohiograpliy of Andrew Jacl'son Andrews. 

amused liim very much. After partaking of 
several mint julei)s and two or three most ele- 
gant meals our steamer soon reached the city of 
Norfolk, and at that place we took on lots of 
passengers and a very heavy freight, consisting 
of cotton and other merchandise for New York 
city. Whilst the steamer was at the wharf in the 
harlDor of Norfolk it turned awfully dark and 
cloudy, and from the storm signal we were noti- 
fied that a severe cyclone was raging on the sea- 
coast. A man came aboard the ship before she 
left and warned our captain not to go out that 
night, but go he would ; however, it blew so very 
hard that we anchored in Hampton Roads. The 
wind was terrific. Both of the ship's anchors 
were thro\\m over to prevent us from dragging 
ashore, and the wind was so severe that the don- 
key engine had to be kept at work all night to 
keep the ship's head up in tlie wind. I soon re- 
tired for the night, but the wind blew so that 
I could not sleep at all. About midnight the 
wind lulled somewhat and the captain gave 
orders tO' weigh anchor and started out. As it 
was quite smooth until we got outside of the 
Capes of Virginia., when the seas commenced to 
roar like a lion and the wind whistled and 
howled similar to the yells of hungry wolves. 
Oh, my ! how awful it was ; the great seas would 



Autohio(jrapliij of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 67 

clash and strike us as much as to say, how dare 
you to be oiit here in a mennaid-like spank, simi- 
hir to an old granny severely whipping tlio little 
one for screaming too loud. But ah, dear reader, 
it continued for days and nights and suppose I 
had the honor of telling yon that it proved to be 
a first-class cyclone; yes, a genuine one. The 
waves would go almost mountain-high; the 
bright sea cap would foam like a mad bull at his 
mouth; the water would go up in spouts; the 
ship would reel and rock, skip and jump, first 
head up, then on her beam ends. The weather 
was bitter cold at one time; the ship was com- 
pletely logged with ice and looked like an ice- 
berg baffling on the mighty ocean. The coast 
was lined with wrecked vessels of all denomina- 
tions. They were blown high and diy ashore, 
and numbers of them dashed to atoms by the 
angry sea. At night it beggared description. It 
was the darkest nights I ever saw, and the cold- 
est weather I ever felt. It would snow and then 
rain in torrents, and blow! blow!! I never had 
seen the like before in my long life, for I know 
T liave been on the ocean a liundred times and 
Ibis voyage beggared description. At one time the 
ship was oTilj going at the late of four miles per 
hour. So, dear reader, you can well imagine 
for yourself what a steamer this was, and al- 



68 Autobiography of Andrew Jachson Andrews. 

tliO'Ugii during its progress I would gladly 
swapped myself for a young lady's x^oodle dog 
or anytliing el^e to be once more on shore, for 
I never expected to ever see liome, sweet home, 
again, but I can boast of saying I was in on of 
the very woist storms that was ever known on 
the coast of America,. AVe were two days behind 
hand going from Norfolk to New York. During 
the storm of the third night at sea about four 
o'clock a wave stinick us a most terrible blow 
and I thought g'o to pieces eveiry minute we 
would. All the crockery in the pantry was 
broken to pieces ; the wine glasses that swung in 
the cabins were dashed out. Passengers would 
run out of their state i ooins in their night clothes 
frantic with fear, some screaming and others 
praying. I saw a young man who was so over- 
come with fright that his eyes all of a sudden 
popped out of their sockets almost as large as 
hens' eggs. I dashed a pitcher of water in his 
face and it somewhat revived him ; he afterwards 
becaiue conscious and all right. The purser was 
awfull^^ fiightened. He told me he was on the 
steamer Mary Dean from Dundee, Scotland, and 
was similar to this storm and that his ship was 
lost and he clung to the rigging of the ship 
three days and nights, and, says he, "Andrews, 



Aid Ohio graph y of Andrew Jaclcson Andrews. G9 

you bad better be praying as we are soon to be 
lost." 

"Well," says I, "it is an awful uigiit and 
awful time, but as I liave not prayed as T should 
have done in good times ashore I think it very 
cowardly to ask the Lord to help me when in 
such danger unexpectedh^ " 

But, dear reader, I did ask him to myself, for 
I made sure we were bound for Davy Jones' 
locker, which is a nautical expression for being 
as we call "drowned." This purser was awful 
penitent to all intents and purposes whilst in 
the I'age of the storm, but to show the base in- 
gratitude of the man, no sooner than the ship 
fired her gun for New York than he remarked, 
as follows: "Ah," says he, "Old Neptune 
thought that he had me, damn him, but I fooled 
him this time." But, says I, old fellow if you 
don't look sharp old Neptune will have the 
pleasure yet of seeing you gobbled up by some 
shai'k, as you would make toothsome bait after 
such ingratitude. However, this was only a 
jocular expression of mine and it was none of my 
business, for a sailor will be a sailor if you white- 
wash him or paint him. There was only one 
steamship to be seen on the mighty ocean during 
this stoiin, and that was a clipper iron-built 
vessel similar to ours; they were almost the 



70 Autohiograpliy of Andrew Jaclcson Andrews. 

exact model, and she was called the "City of 
Macon," and traded Ijetween New York and 
Savannah, Ga. Our steamei' was faster and 
when we arrived in New York the dock was 
crowded with people to see us, as it was reported 
our ship was lost. I was glad to put my feet 
on solid terra firma once more and, don't you for- 
get it, my dear reader, for I remarked if I ever 
get through this a live man I will learn how to 
stay on shore for several weeks and months, 
which I have done. Well, after I remained sev- 
eral days in New Ybrk city I returned on the 
same ship, and a most pleasant trip it was. One 
could hardly realize hei was on the samB mighty 
ocean, and in the same steamer. I enjoyed the 
return trip very much indeed; the ocean had 
subsided and the water was as smooth as glass 
and the heavens as beautiful as conld well be. 
Well, to cap the climax, I reached home on 
Christmas Day, and no sooner had I reached the 
shore than an old negro man says, "Mr. An- 
drews your old friend Dr. Vest got drowned on 
a duck hunt yesterday. ' ' 

"Great heavens," says I, "can this be so," 
and will not trouble and sorrows end, for I deairly 
liked Dr. Vest, as we used to have fine times bird 
hunting together and his untimely death grieved 
me veiy much. Well, to go on with my story, 



AidoUography of Andrew Jaclcson Andrews. 71 

I reached my residence on Cliurcli Hill and the 
ground was awfully sleety and when I entered 
the threshold I was informed that there was a 
corpse in the kitchen, that a negro had gotten 
burned up. Do tell us some more news, for I 
have never had such an awful trip in my life, 
and on my return I am greeted with deaths by 
drowning and fire. Stop, says I, and tell me no 
more, for I am sick at heart. But as I have 
never seen anything ever since I was bom I 
soon got over it and I must say I spent a very 
gloomy Christmas, as I was low in funds and 
felt veiy sorry at heart at the drowning of my 
hunting companion. Dr. Vest. However, time 
soothes all things; it seems it is the only medi- 
cine for trouble, as time soon buries grief and 
sorrow with mankind. And I very soon got re- 
conciled again and pursued my usual hunting at 
times when I could spare a few hours from my 
business, and up to this writing, which dates 
October 20, 1884, I have never taken another sea 
voyage, for I had an excursion ticket in my 
pocket over a year old to go to New York and re- 
turn and have not used it yet, for I have not 
gotten entirely over this trip in a cyclone, and 
I will always remember it until my eyes are 
closed in death, for I don't care to take any more 
such pleasure excursions on the briny deep. 



72 Autohiography of Andreiv Jachson Andrews. 

Thus closes, dear reader my liumble description 
of this terrible sea voyage. 



A SAINT PATRICK'S DAY FROLIC. 

It is a very bad thing for a man to drink, but 
you see I was bom and raised in old Virginia 
style and my good old daddy used to learn us 
when small to drink grass in our moraing bit- 
ters, or, in other words, a weak mint julep before 
breakfast, and I have not really forgotten it 
since, although if I had never touched a drop of 
spirits, or bad tangle-foot, as I generally term it, 
I never would have experienced so much trouble. 
And my advice to one and all, high and low, and 
rich and poor, is touch not, taste not, handle not, 
for whiskey has caused more trouble in this 
world than a standing army of enemies. Gen- 
eral John Barleycorn is hard to whip; he is in- 
vincible, and really I have never heard yet of 
his being licked by anybody; he is always vic- 
torious. Still men are so foolish as tO' be con- 
tinually waging war with the gentleman, and al- 
ways, in the long iTin, is badly handled in every 
respect, but to go on with this St. Patrick 's Day 
spree would say that very soon in the moniing 
of last St. Patrick's I commenced to celebrate 



Autohiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 73 

"the day, and T became intensely intoxicated, and 
went into a saloon on Main street and asked for 
a drink; it was handed niei; I swallowed it and 
})aid foT it; I then had so much aboard that I 
commenced to sing and the barkeeper ordered m© 
out and I became terribly enraged at being in- 
sulted and told him that it was a public place and 
I would go when it suited my convenience, and 
he then dealt me a most stunning blow with a 
stick over my head, which bled freely; I tlien 
roared like a lion and drew a six-shooter and 
snapped it at his breast four times and just at 
this scene of this panorama I was taken in charge 
by a policeman and I was carried to court, fined 
twenty-five dollars and bound over to keep the 
peace for twelve months, which I have done ever 
since. How delightful I was to know, when I 
got over my spree, that Divine Providence 
watched over me, but I said old St. Patrick 
watched over me and kept that pistol from going 
off. For really I had no animosity against the 
man and had the pistol fired he would surely 
been murdered, and I, no doubt, stining up by 
the neck or imprisoned for life, all on account of 
using too freely old rye, which is the beginning 
and ending of all troubles pretty much, and may 
I never again be under the due influence of 
spiritous liquors, for it is the root of all evil, and 



74 Autobiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

how thankful I am to know that I got through 
such an awful scene so well. Pen cannot de- 
scribe my heartfelt gratitude to an unknown 
spirit that watched over and protected me. So, 
young man, take my advice, and shun the deadly 
sei-pent whiskey, bruise his head on every occa- 
sion, for nothing is so sure toi bring a man in bad 
repute and poverty than the use of intoxicating 
drinks. Stick to cold water; it is healthy and 
will never get you in troubles of any kind and I 
close this veiy disgraceful sketch of a St. Pat- 
rick 's Day frolic much to my chagrin and morti- 
fication. 



AN EXPERIENCE WITH COUNTRY LAW- 
YERS AND AN OLD JUDGE. 

It seems that notwithstanding my numerous 
exploits on different occasions in my life that 
ever since the war I was continually food for 
lawyers, either by unfortunate speculations or 
othei^wise, but the most ridiculous one was with 
a countiy judge. Although I must say others 
agree with me that I had a right to growl and 
grumble the way I was treated, which I will pro- 
ceed to show. As I stated in my first sketch in 
life that my father lived and died in the county 



Autohiograpliy of Andrew JacJcson Andrews. 75 

of Gloucester, State of Virginia, and left my 
sister and self a small estate, which before the 
late war was quite valuable, but since the war 
for the seiious lack of means it went fast to 
wreck and niin, but chiefly from being in the 
clutches continually of the countiy lawyers. This 
was attributed solely that a division was asked 
for and the property was sold on one and two 
years without a cash payment and the purchaser 
kept it for two years, who became insolvent and 
the court granted another decree for the resale of 
the same i>roperty on same tenns and when I 
learned this and in the heat of passion I wi'ote 
the following letter, which, of course, got me 
again in the claws of the lawyers, but I managed 
to work my affairs in the matter without being 
imprisoned or fined and fooled the lawyers good. 
The letter wi^ote to the judge read as follows, 
as near as I can remember : 

Richmond, Va., March 20, 1884. 
Judge Jeffeies : 

Sir,— About two years ago old Mr. Stafford 
Cooke, of Yorktown, was appointed to make sale 
of a piece of property left to my sister and self 
by my father. Captain William Andrews, of 
Glouc>ester county, Va., and I protested all I 
could against the sale on one and two years with- 



76 Avtohiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

out a cash payment, and everything turned up 
exactly as I eLx:ijecteid. The purchaser failed and 
wronged myself and sister out of two years' 
rent, as poor as my sister is now. Sir, I received 
infonnation from a lawyer a few days agO' that 
he had gotten another decree for resale of same 
property on same tenns. This was done without 
my consent and knowledge and to be defrauded 
out of two years' rent is enough for us tO' stand, 
and if you have any property to sell on one and 
two years, without a cash payment you can go 
ahead and sell it, and I will thanl<: you not to 
be granting any more decreciS of my property 
again on any such tenns and I must say that an 
old experienced judge as you to ever in the first 
place to confinn a sale of real estate of a dead 
man's heirs without requiring from the pur- 
chaser one- third or fourth cash, then again to 
grant a decree on same terms. Now, sir, I most 
solemnly protest against it, and if you allow old 
Cooke, at Yorktown, tO' resell my property on 
such terms I will blow his God-damned brains 

out. 

Yours, &c., 

A. J. Andrews. 

Well, dear reader, the next thing I knew here 
comes a summons for me tO' appear at court, 
. which reads as follows : 



Autobiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 77 

The Common IV ealth of Virginia To The Sheriff 
of the City of Richmond — Gbe^ti:^g: 

"We command you to summons A. J. An- 
drews to appear before the Circuit Court of 
Gloucester county on the first day of the next 
tenn, the fifteenth day of May, at 12 o'clock M., 
to show cause, if any he can, why he shall not be 
fined and imprisoned in writing the above letter 
to the judge of the said court; also for a threat 
of violence to Stafford, an officer of the said 
court. Witness, John S. Cooke, Clerk of our 
said connty, this 15th day of April, 1884, in the 
108th year of the Commonwealth. 

John S. Cooke, C. C." 

I promptly responded to the summons and ex- 
plained to the judge my feeling in the matter, 
and apologizing to the court I got off. The fine 
in this case was two hundred and fifty dollars 
and six months imprisonment, but I talked soft 
'to this "old judge" and crawled from under his 
claws without paying a cent or being imprisoned 
either. Although, to s]3eak the truth, I was ter- 
ribly mad that I should be forced to apologize 
to the court for speaking the truth and defend- 
ing my family's rights. And I have since writ- 
ten that judge that he musn't never speak to me 
again, for this ijroperty that caused me so much 



78 Autobiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

trouble is the place I saw daylight aiid it being 
my old homestead, did not care to see it eaten 
up by the court. I have, however, had a good 
deal of experience with legal matters that I have 
become well versed on many law points and can 
paddle my own canoe in that line of business 
pretty well, although I must say it is anything 
but pleasant to have any case in court, or to be 
mixed up in legal matters in any shape or form. 
But, kind reader, I fear I have written too much, 
and pardon me for trespassing on your most 
valuable time as I only intended to make a very 
brief pamphlet of my boyhood days I must beg 
to come to a close, for if I were to' begin t-o nar- 
rate my different exploits in this, my private 
life, since the war between the States up to date, 
it would be more astounding than the life of 
Robinson Crusoe and would fill a volume much 
larger than Shakespeare. Wishing you, kind 
friend, who may be troubled reading this humble 
scribble, wealth, health, and prosperity, I re- 
main. 

Your obedient servant, 

Andeew J. Andrews. 

Formerly a member of the Third Company of 
Richmond Howitzers, and in this command I 
remained until the war closed. 



AutoUographij of Andrew Jaclson Andrews. 79 

A SKETCH OF THE MARRIAGE OF A. J. 

ANDREAVH TO HIS BELOVED WIFE, 

MISS NANNIE C. PARKINSON, OF 

RICHMOND, VA. 

I deem it but a matter of my humble and sin- 
cere duty due my dear and beloved wife to give 
an outline of our marriage. As my courtship 
lasted for a long time I at one time thought I 
would never have the pleasure of every having 
my present lady for my wedded wife, as her 
beaus were very numerous and consisted of gen- 
tlemen of various rank and distinction, as fol- 
lows : The gallant lieutenants and captains and 
surgeons of the Confederate army, and I, an 
humble private, had a hard time to captivate my 
dear wife. However, I believe matches are made 
in heaven or else I am much mistaken, for pecu- 
niarily my wife could have done much better, 
but pure love always wins. We mutually loved 
each oilier, whicli is a gift from above, and it is 
not ordained that man should ever unravel the 
works of Providence. Well, you may say that 
the war was at its end when our marriage cele- 
bration took place, and I now, kind reader, give 
vou a brief sketch of same, although I should 
have narrated to you this sketch heretofore, but 



80 Autobiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

as we are all veiy prone to omit very important 
matters and that it is not too late to do good and 
to add important matters to the sketch of one's 
private affairs I, therefore, have nothing more 
to comment upon and propose to give an out- 
line of our marriage. As it required consider- 
able pluck and nei^ve to' get married in Confeder- 
ate days, and it was looked upon as a very gal- 
lant act for a man to have tlie audacity to take 
unto himself a wife. However, I mustered up 
enough courage, and a, few weeks before the end 
of the war my wedding was announced to take 
place, at the memorable St. John's church, as all 
well-educated persons know as being the noted 
place that Patrick Henry made his celebrated 
speech to the American people in which he pro- 
claimed to the world, "Give me liberty, or 
Death." Well, as this church was the place ap- 
pointed for our marriage a very large concourse 
of people gatliered there to witness the ma.rriage 
celebration. As stated befoire, it was a very re- 
markable thing in those days and times to see a 
marriage. The old church was densely packed 
from front to rear and its galleries to overflow- 
ing and the occasion was officiated over by the 
Rev. Dr. Norwood, of the Episcopal church. 
When my wife and self arrived at the church 
it was filled to overflowing; it was packed and 



Autobiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 81 

rammed and Dr. Noi-wood told my wife's 
mother, ''Madam, it is a matter of impossibility 
to get to the altar to perform this solemn cere- 
mony, and you will have to take your daughter 
home and must be married there." We obeyed 
the Rev. Dr. Noi-wood, and got in a hack and 
proceeded to our home on Twenty-second and 
Broad street, and the horses attached to onr car- 
riage stumbled and one of them were crippled, 
but, nevertheless, this was an evil omen we pro- 
ceeded, and although as a very large concourse 
of people came to our private residence, we 
squeezed our way through this great crowd and 
were bound together in holy wedlock. Dr. Nor- 
wood took a glass of champagne with me and 
drank our good health. We were as happy as a 
couple of morning larks. Many people predicted 
that we would always have bad luck from the 
fact that one of the horses attached to the car- 
riage or phaeton had been crippled, but I never 
listened to any such nonsense, although we have 
had at many times and on various occasions ups 
and downs in married life. We have ever been 
the same true and tried and affectionate couple. 
And I do not think that two people were more 
properly yoked together, for we agree to dis- 
agree, or, in other words, to use the Latin words, 
''disentire consentiamus. " My wife is, in my 



83 Autohiogmphij of Andrciv Jacl'son Andrews. 

eyesight, a none such, and I really do not think 
that I could hunt this wide world over and find 
a lady more suitable to my taste than my present 
beloved wife, for she is always to me the same 
devoted and affectionate wife. Come weal or 
woe and I cannot but feel thankful to Him above 
for giving to me my present wife, for I would 
not exchange her for one of Queen Victoria's 
daughters. And I regret very much of not al- 
ways taking my good wife's advice on many 
occasions, for I have always regretted doing 
otherwise, as she has always given me nothing 
but pure and fair advice. Men may think they 
know everything, but they are sadly mistaken, 
for the pride of man is woman's love, and the 
love of woman is pure. 

Yours respectfully, 

A. J. Andkews. 



A MEMORANDA. 

Second Sckape With the Judge. 

As at times I am pretty high tempered I wrote 
another scalding letter to the judge whose court 
had charge of my wife and sister's property in 
Gloucester connty, Va., from the fact tlie place 
was resold again without a cash payment, and in 



Autohioyraphi/ of Andrew Jaclson Andrews. 83 

a heat of extreme passion, tliinking tliat my wife 
and sister had been badly used by the court I 
as stated herein wrote a severe and fast letter to 
his royal highness, "The Judge," but, bless your 
soul, the savage old fellow considering this a 
further and worse contempt of court had me 
hauled down to Gloucester Courthouse and 
locked up and fined forty dollars. I did not mmd 
being locked up, however, as I had seen so much 
trouble in my life, as it was rather a change of 
schedule and while I was there an old soldier 
remarked, "Well, Jack, I see you have another 
scrap with the judge, but the old 3udge don't 
know you like I do or he would not have treated 
you so harshly. However, Jack," he continued, 
''I don't guess you have had such a resting spell 
since the war." Well, really, I could not help 
from laughing veiy heartily at his remarks, for 
such were the facts. After being released I was 
annoyed about the fine against me, and was told 
a capias would be issued against me, but I took 
time by the forelock and as I saw from the Code 
0$ Virginia that the Governor had a right to re- 
mit fines, I drew up a petition myself and called 
upon the Governor and General Fitz Lee and 
narrated my trouble and the good heaiix^d old 
soldier immediately discovered that I had been 
provoked to anger and he immediately arranged 



84 Autohiograpliy of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

with the judge to stop all proceedings against 
me. As I had completed my little book and this 
was rather an interesting scene in my life I 
thought I would add this as a memoranda, and 
will now close. 

Respectfully, 

Andrew J. Andrews. 

Richmond, Va., July 17, 1886. 



THE EARTHQUAKE AT RICHMOND. 

I thought, kind reader, that I had completed 
my various ups and downs and sight-seeings, 
but it seems that wonders never cease to happen, 
and this pamphlet would not be complete with- 
out giving a sketch of the severe shock of earth- 
quake that happened at this city on the tliirty- 
first of August, 1886. All of my family had re- 
tired for a sweet night's repose, and as I had 
just been reading an interesting account of the 
severe eai'thquake in Greece I was the last one 
in the house awake, and at or near 10 o'clock I 
started to my bed chamber and I had just closed 
the back and front doors and had started up the 
stairway when I heard the steps crack and it 
seemed that the floor was moving. I stopped 
and I felt the house trembling terribly. At the 



Autobiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 85 

first instance I concluded that it was a heavily- 
laden freight train that passed under the Church 
Hill tunnel, but as we are accustomed to the 
noise from the cars from this source I went on 
and concluded that was the trouble, but to my 
extreme surprise I discovered this could not be 
from the noise of the cars, for in a few seconds 
the house shook like a ship in a storm. I opened 
the front door and I could see buildings nearly 
toppling over; the windows made an unearthly 
sound; the rattle was terrific; I then screamed 
in a loud voice to my family and told them we 
were experiencing a genuine earthquake shock, 
and told them to come out of the building. I 
was then in the street, and, says I, can this really 
be an earthquake, and is it possible that but a 
few moments previous that I had been reading 
about earthquakes in other countries, but to be- 
lieve I was being made to know I was experienc- 
ing one so sudden at my own home and in this 
great America nearly staggered me, as a became 
apparent that it was a stern reality. I then con- 
cluded to walk up to the Richmond Dispatch of- 
fice and find out if it was a general thing over 
the city, and on my way I could see ladies and 
children standing in the street in front of their 
residence terrified to death. I would stop and 
converse with them and nearly every one would 



86 Autobiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

give the same description of the 'quake and then 
again others were too badly frightened to talk. 
I soon arrived at the Dispatch office and gave in 
my exj^erience and whilst there I saw a gentle- 
man who but a few minutes had been at Corco- 
ran Hall, on Church Hill, to an entertainment, 
or society meeting. I don't recollect exactly, but 
he was so badly frightened that he could scai'cely 
get through giving liis description of this shak- 
ing up we were having. He remarked, looking 
as pale as death, that the building came near 
falling, and the men ran out pell mell, thinking 
that judgment day was close at hand. In a little 
while the fire bells commenced to ring, and it 
was reported on the streets that the penitentiary 
was on fire, but that was a mistake, as it was 
soon discovered that the prisoners at that insti- 
tution were terrified from the earthquake shook, 
and fearing the walls would tmnble appealed piti- 
ously not to let them be demolished by the 
trembling walls. The military alarm was turned 
in and several military companies were tOon on 
the spot to prevent the escape of the prisoners. 
My eldest son, who is a member of the Eiclmiond 
Grays, remained out there with his command 
all night, whilst at the Dispatch office I heard 
a drunken fellow remark that the city had called 
out the military to fight the eartliquake. The 



Autobiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 87 

very idea of soldiers being called out to tackle 
an earthquake was enough for nie, although 
I could not help from laughing at such a remark. 
But this sight was too solenm for a man with 
common sense to be making merry over, for 
wicked man was made to see and know that his 
maker, Almighty God, was holding the destiny 
of this city in the palm of His hand. I am very 
glad that I lived to see the wonderful works of 
the All Wise Being. Before I saw this with 
mine own eyes I was much of the opinion that 
this earth we inhabit was' always and would be 
forever, but I have changed my opinion on that 
point veiy decidedly, for this earth is but a 
mere bubble on the ocean, and in the twinkling 
of an eye this entire world, with all its grandeur, 
its cities, mountains and lakes and oceans, and 
the staunch and lofty ships that sail thereon 
can be all demolished. This very earthquake I 
verily believe was sent a,s a warning to the citi- 
zens of this United States, as it was almost a 
general shock over a greater portion of the 
Union, especially at Charleston, S. C.,- where 
death in every form and the destraction of prop- 
erty was greatest. This stroke and power of 
Almighty God is enough to convince His people, 
and to make them know that he was King over 
ALL, and if they would not be convinced of his 



88 Autobiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

supreme power that in tliis maimer he would 
teach them this dreadful lesson,, not soon to be 
forgotten, it matters not how hardened a sinner 
he may be, for this is but a warning, kind reader, 
that at the sound of the bugle-call of that great 
judgment day this earth will pass away and the 
struggling mass of living beings will, with their 
boot>^ and glut for wealth and worldly show, 
sink to rise no more — 

Earth to earth and dust to dust; 
Here the evil and the just, 
Here tlie matron and the maid, 
In one silent grave are laid; 
Here the vassal and the king. 
Side by side lie witliering. 
Here the evil and the just. 
Earth to eaeth and dust to dust. 



As I thought it woTild not be improper, con- 
cluded to add to this manuscript a few songs 
sung by soldiers in camp and several letters 
written to me whilst a ]>risoner at Foet Dela- 
ware AND Point Lookout. 



AutoUography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 89 

Song. 

DIXIE'S LAND. 

Oh, Dixie's land is de land of cotton 
Old times dar am neber forgotten, 
Look away, look away, look away. 

To Dixie's land. 
Oil ! I wish I was in Dixie, 

Hooray! Hooray! 
In Dixie 's land I take my stand 
To live and die in Dixie, 

Hoobay! Hooray! Hooray! etc. 

Oh, Dixie's land am de land of clover. 
When yon git drunk, git drank all ober. 
Look away, look away, look away, 

To Dixie's land. 
Oh, I wish I was in Dixie, 

Hooray! Hooray! 
In Dixie's land I'll take my stand 
To live and die in Dixie. 
Hooray, hooray, hooray, hooray! 

Look away, look away, look away, 

To Dixie's land. 
Oh ! I wish I was in Dixie, 

Hooray! Hooray! 



90 Autohiograpliy of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

In Dixie's land I take my stand 
To live and die in Dixie, 

Hooray! Hooeay! Hooray! etc. 

Ole missus married William Weaver, 
William was a gay deceiver, 
Look away, look away, look away ; 
I wish I was in Dixie, 

Hooray! Hooray!! 
In Dixie's land I take my stand 
To live and die in Dixie. 
Hooray ! hooray ! to live and die in 

Dixie. 

Ole missus acted the foolish part. 
And died for a man tliat broke her heart, 
Hooray! hooray! hooray! hooray! 
Oh, I wish I was in Dixie, 

Hooray! Hooray!! 
In Dixie's land I take my stand 
To live and die in Dixie. 
Hooray ! hooray ! to live and die in 

Dixie. 

Oh, if you want to drive away sorrow 
Do come and hear dis song to-morrow, 
Hooray! hooray! hooray! hooray! 
Oh, I wish I was in Dixie, 
Hooray ! hooray ! hooray ! etc. 



Autobiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 91 

WAIT 'TILL THE WAR IS OVER. 

First Verse. 

'Twas gentle spring the flowers were bright, 

The birds' sweet songs were loively, 
I wandered in tlie moon's pale light 

Witli the maid I loved so fondly; 
Her face was fair with smiles to me, 

With joy my heart ran over 
To hear her sweet voice say to me, 

Wait 'till the war, love, is over ; 
Wait love, wait love, wait 'till the war, love, 
is over. 

Second Verse. 
Sad I was to leave that maid, 

The girl I loved so dearly ; 
Tears, yes, tears, from my eyelids fell. 

Oh, my heart, it felt severely. 
Her faice was fair with joys to me, 

With joy my heart ran over. 
To hear her sweet voice say to me. 

Wait 'till the war, love, is over ; 
Wait, love, etc., etc. 

Third Verse. 
Sweet, gentle peace came to onr land, 

Onr foes their flight had taken, 
I hastened home with heart and hand. 



92 Autobiography of Andreiv Jackson Andrews. 

To the Soutliern maid awaiting; 
Her face was fair with joys to me, 

My heai't it near ran over 
To hear her sweet voice say to me : 

Come, for the war, love, is over. 
Come love, come love, for the war, love, is over. 



THE SOUTHERN MARSEILLES. 

Sons of the South, awake to glory, 
A thousand voices bid yon rise; 

Your children, wives, and grand sires, hoary, 
Gaze on you with tiTisting eyes ; 

Your country ever strong am calling. 
To meet tlie hireling Northern band 
That comes to desolate the land 

With fire and bloodshed appalling. 

Chorus : 

To arms, to arms, ye brave. 

The avenging sword unsheathe; 
March on, march on, all hearts 
Resolve on Victory or Death. 

Second Veese. 

Now, now, the dangerous stonxi is rolling, 
Which treacherous brothers madly raise, 
The dogs of war let loose am howling 



Autohiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 93 

And soon our peaceful town may blaze, 

And soon our peaceful toiwn may blaze. 

Shall fiends who basely plot our ruin 

Unchecked with guilty stride, 

To spread destiiiotion far and wide 

With Southern blood their hands embracing. 

To arms, to anns, ye brave. 

The avenging sword unsheatlie; 

March on, march on, all hearts 

Resolve on Victory or Death. 

With needy, starving mobs surrounded. 

The jealous, blind, fanatics dare 

To offer in their zeal unbounded 

Our happy slaves their tender care. 

The South through deepest wrongs bewailing, 

Long yielded all to Union's name, 

But Independence now we claim. 

And all their threats are unvailing. 



A Naval Song by the Union Soldiers at Point 

Lookout, Md. 

the; c^onstttutton and guerrteke. 

First Verse. 

It often has been told, 
The British steamer bold 



94 AutoUography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

Could flog the tars of France so 

Neat and Handy, 0. 
But they never found their match 
Till the Yankees did them catch, 
For the Yankee boys are fighting 

And the Dandy, 0. 

Second Verse. 

The Guerriere, a frigate bold, 
Upon the foaming ocean rolled. 
Commanded by proud Dacres 

The Grander, 0. 
Every choice of British crew 
As a rammer ever drew; 
They could flog the tars of France 
So neat and dandy, 0. 

Thied Veese. 

When the frigates hove in view. 
Said proud Dacres to his crew. 
Come clear the ship for action, 

And be Handy, 0. 
To the weather gauge boys, get her. 
And to make his men fight better 
Give them a drink of gunpowder 
Mixed with brandy, 0. 



AutoUographij of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 95 

Fourth Vehse. 

Oh, the British shot flew hot, 
Which the Yankees answered not, 
'Till they got within their distance. 
So neat and handy, 0. 
Now, says Hull unto his crew 
Boys, let's see what we can do; 
If we take these boasting Brittons 
We are the dandys, 0. 
The first broadside we poured 
Carried the mainmast by the board, 
Which made this lofty frigate 
Look abandoned, 0. 
That old Dacres shook his head 
And to his officers he said. 
Lord, I didn't the Yankees 
Win so handy, O. 

Fifth Verse. 

Our second told so well. 

That her forai and rigging fell. 

Which danced her royal ensign 

So neat and Handy, 0. 

By God, says he, we are done. 

And fired a lee gun. 

When the Yankees struck up, 

Yankee Doodle Dandy, 0. 



96 Autobiographif of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

Sixth Vekse. 

When Dacres came on board 
To deliver up his sword, 
Aloft was he to part, 
'Twas neat and handy, O. 
Oh, keep your sword, says Hull 
For it only makes you dull 
So clieer up and we'll take 
A glass of brandy, 0. 
Come, fill your glasses full, 
And we will drink to Captain Hull, 
And so merrily we will 
Push about the brandy, 0. 
Johnnie Bull, may taste his fill 
And the world say what it will 
For the Yankee boys for fighting 
Are the dandys, 0. 

A letter received from a Federal soldier at Point 
Lookout on my return from that prison. 

Point Lookout, April 19, 1894. 

Friend Jack,— I received your kind missive 
with much pleasure. That monument you made 
of stones and pebbles from the shore a;t this 
place I did not sell, for I never thought you 
would ever write, but I wrote home to New York 



Autohioyraphy of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 97 

and told them to keep it to remember you by. I 

have received no letters from Miss for 

you. The Federal soldiers here liked you for the 
resi>ectable manner you conducted yourself and 
send their respects. Everything is lovely on the 
point. My friend, Dill, has gone to New Or- 
leans. 

Farewell, my dear friend. Bob, of the bloody 
New York Zouaves. 



A Letter Received From a Friend on the Flag 
OF Truce Steamer. 

Steamer Shultz, James Eiver, Nov. 15, 1863. 

My Dear Jack,— Words cannot describe the 
joy at hearing from you, as we knew notliing or 
heard of you or your fate since the great battle 
of Gettysburg, Pa. Keep up your heart, my 
dear boy, and we will meet again soon I hope. 
I enclose you a little money, and will send you 
more when I can purchase greenbacks. All are 
well at home and send their best love to you. 
Everj^body is anxious to see you once more. We 
are now near City Point, and our boat running 
regular to meet the U. S. exchange boat. Funds 



98 Autobiography of Andrew Jaclson Andreivs. 

will be sent to you from Wasliingtoii by the Kev. 
Dr. Trumbull. 

Affectionately yours, 

J. M. W., 

Clerk Steamer Scliultz. 

A letter received from a member of the Third 
Howitzers on my return to Richmond from 
Point Lookout a prisoner of war. 



Camp Third Howitzers, First Virginia Artil- 
lery, Near Frederick's Hall, 

Louisa County, Va., March 8, 1864. 

My dear friend Jack,—1 heard yesterday with 
surprise of your arrival at the Confederate 
Metropolis from Point Lookout, Maiyland, and 
hasten to offer you my congratulations on your 
early and suspected exchange. You cannot im- 
agine how much we all miss you in camp and 
how many prayers (sincere and heartfelt) have 
gone up for your return, but ''Pondonnes Moi 
Monsieur/' I did not intend to make a declara- 
tion of my feelings and sentiments, but candidly, 
old fellow, when you return to camp, if we ever 
touch Pennsylvania soil again you and I will 
pay them back with compound interest for all 



Autohiographij of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 99 

the sufferings, both mental and physical, they 
inflicted on you while in their power I have 
not time to finish my note as the young man is 
waiting for it, and so will close by subscribing 
myself, 

Your friend, 

E. P. Morris. 



This manuscript is very respectfully dedi- 
cated to the Blue and the Gray, as it will, no 
doubt, be read with interest by both tlie old Fed- 
eral soldier as well as the Confederalte veterans. 
There is nothing contained in this manuscript 
but the plain truth and can be vouched for by 
living witnesses and genuine and original let- 
ters in my possession, which can be produced on 
demand. 

Your humble servant, 

A. J. Andrews. 

Richmond, Va., July 2, 1889. 

This is to certify that the writer of this manu- 
script was a' soldier in my command during the 
War Between the States. 

Henry C. Carter. 



100 Autobiography of Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

Late First Lieutenant Tliird Company Rich- 
mond Howitzers, Hardaway's Battalion, 
Second Army Corps. 



THE BELLE OF STATEN ISLAND. 

Beneath the shade of willow trees 
That's wafted by a heavenly breeze, 
Surrounded by a shell road 
Stands a cottage 
Built of brick and board ; 
Within dwells a lovely blond 
And from youth was very fond. 
I pause toi give her full name 
For from that I must refrain ; 
To see her drive around the park 
By all it was allowed, 
A fairer outside was never seen 
An angel on the cloud. 

Oh, Mary Jane ; Oh, Mary Jane, 
That lives in the highland— 

Oh, Maiy Jane, thou lovely girl, 
The Belle of Staten Island. 

Her eyes are blue as the sl^. 

And for her hand 
Would lay me down and die. 



Autohiographij of Andrciu Jackson Andrews. 101 

Her linglets and snow-white skin, 
Ah, my. 

Would malie the Noi-th and South aldn. 

Oh, Mary Jane; Oh, Mary Jane, 
That lives in the highland— 

Oh, Maiy Jane, thou precious pearl. 
The Belle of Staten Island. 

Years have flown 

Since last I saw her 
Standing- in her cottage door; 

Though her smiles 
Are ever near me, 

Though I see her never more. 
Pale the moon-beams 

Fall at evening, 
Over thy head. 

Thou lovely girl ; 
But thy face 

Is fair as heaven 
Precious angel, darling pearl. 

Oh, Mary Jane; Oh, Mary Jane, 
That lives in the highland— 

Oh, Mary Jane, Majestic Girl, 
The Belle of Staten Island. 

Andrew Jackson Andrews, 

Richmond, Virginia. 
August 29, 1901. 



POEMS and SELECTIONS 

Bv 

ANDI^EW JACKSON ANDREWS 



Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. 105 



POCM5 AND SELECTIONS, Dv ANDREW 
JACKSON ANDREWS. 



DEDICATED TO GEK. FITZHUGH LEE. 

Beneath the shade of Hollywood trees. 

That's wafted by a heavenly breeze. 

The remains of a Confederate oflScer lay. 

Whose deeds of valor we honor this day. 

He fought for a cause he knew was just. 

And sweetly sleeps in his country's dust. 

He was not a traitor, coward, or knave, 

But old Virginia's God-chosen brave. 

Sleep on, dear brother, sleep; 

Thousands of friends around you weep. 

You have answered bravely Death's roll-call. 

Fought for your country, one and aJl. 

Thy deeds are immortal, thy race of life is rui^; 

Oh! never will you see again 

The rising and setting sun. 

The lightning may flash and loud cannon rattle. 

But never will you rise again to ever fight a battle. 



106 Poems, Etc., by Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

A PRAYER. 

Oh, Lord of Love ! look from above 

And mingle your prayers with ours ; • •' 

Oh, fair maids! sweet roses bring, 

And strew his grave with flowers; 

Oh, mothers, brothers and sisters, dear ! 

Just drop your heartfelt tears right here. 

Sleep on, dear brother, the sweet sleep of the brave. 

For you fought for a cause you could not save. 

Composed by, 
ANDREV7 Jackson Andrews, 

Eichmond, Va. 
Born in Gloucester county, Va., August 19, 1842. 



Tenderly Dedicated 

TO the 

Confederate Dead, and to Captain John Lamb, 

First at Home ; First in Congress ; First 

to Eecognize Virginia's Greatest 

Poet. 

WHERE I WAS BORN. 

Verse I. 

In Gloucester county, on the old York river. 
There is where ray heart is turning, ever : 



Poems, Etc., by Andrew Jackson Andrews. 107 

Near Cappalioosic, where I was born, 
Early on one August morn. 
Cappalioosic is the place 
To cook your victuals and wash your face. 
The best the market can afford 
Is placed upon the teeming board, 
Way down on the old York river, 
There is where my heart is turning ever. 

Verse II. 

A land of oysters and of fishes, 

A land of apples, and of milk and peaches ; 

A land of mosquitoes and of snakes, 

A land of flowers and of grapes, 

A land of snow-storms and of blizzards, 

A land of scorpions and of lizzards, 

A land of 'possums and of minks, 

A land of quail and of bobolinks, 

A land of proud aristocrats, 

A land of squirrels and of gray-eyed cats, 

A land of horses and of mules, 

A land of colored public schools, ' 

A land of churches and of stores, 

A land of pine-trees and of crows, 

A land of corn-cakes and of fritters, 

A land of whiskey and of tansey bitters, 

Way down on the old York river. 

There is where my heart is turning ever. 



108 Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

Verse III. 

The people with good things stuff their craw. 
They fish and hunt and practice law; 
Their favorite drink is the good mint-julep, 
Their favorite flower, the beautiful tulip; 
Their honeysuckle is very sweet, 
But the lily-of-the-valley is hard to beat; 
The roads are narrow and very sandy. 
With horse and buggy we'll find quite handy, 
Way down on the old York river. 
There is where my heart is turning ever. 
So this is the place where I was born, 
1842, on the 19th of August morn. 



AVENGE THE MAINE. 

Dedicated to Captain Sigsbee and the brave heroes who 
perished on the Maine in Havana harbor. 

1. From America's fair land did sail 

The warship Maine through storm and gale. 

Answering to her country's call, 

Eepresenting us, one and all. 

Her mission was a peaceful one. 

Not intending to fire a gun ; 

While anchored quiet and peacefully. 

Was sunk by Spanish treachery. 

Chorus : 

Avenge the Maine, avenge the Maine, 
A burning shame, avenge the Maine ! 



Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andreivs. 109 

2'. Shall men from our fertile lands 
Calmly fold their brave hands? 
No, no; to war we'll go, 
And strike the Spanish cowards low. 
I hear the distant thunder hum, 
The old line bugle, fife, and drum, 

Chorus : 

Avenge the Maine, avenge the Maine, 
A burning shame, avenge the Maine ! 

3. Fall in, men, both black and white, 

And show the Spaniards how we can fight. 

Listen to the bugle's call ; 

Fall in, men, fall in all. 

And answer to your names all 'round. 

And strike the villains to the ground. 

Chorus : 

Avenge the Maine, avenge the Maine, 
A burning shame, avenge the Maine ! 

4. Fall in, men, North, East, and West; 
The Sunny South will do her best. 
She belonged to us, she belonged to all, 
So answer to your country's call. 
Weep not, fair maids; the die is cast; 
The boys will fight them to the last. 

Chorus : 

Avenge the Maine, avenge the Maine, 
A burning shame, avenge the Maine ! 



110 Poems, Mc, by Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

5. Our gallant jack-tars on the wave, 

Will give the Spaniards a watery grave; 
While we on shore, with bayonets bi'ight, 
Will knock the poltroons out of sight. 
So fall in, men; fall in all. 
And answer to your country^s call. 

Chorus : 

Avenge the Maine, avenge the Maine, 
A burning shame, avenge the Maine ! 



DEDICATED TO THE WAE BETWEEN SPAIN 
AND AMEEICA. 

I hear the bugle's blasting, and rattling of the drum, 

War is commencing, so now look out for fun. 
They will knock old Blanco out, all, that's just what 
they'll do, 
With the boys that wear the gray, and the boys that 
wear the blue. 

The navy is a-sailing over the ocean blue. 

The army is a-marching to join the navy, too ; 
Havana is the place where they'll start to fight 

To knock old Blanco out, boys, and kick him out of 
sight. 
They will knock old Blanco out, boys, ah, that's just 
what they'll do. 
With the boys that wear the gray, and the boys that 
wear the blue. 



Poems, Etc., hij Andrew Jackson Andrews. Ill 

They will soon capture Blanco and hang him up a tree. 
And drive the haughty Spaniards from the land of 
liberty. 
They will knock old Blanco out, boys, ah, that's just 
what they'll do. 
With the boys that wear the gray, and the boys that 
wear the blue. 

They will then sail to Cadiz, and there they'll conquer 
Spain, 
The Spaniards will ne'er return to Cuba's land again. 
They will knock them out of sight, boys, ah, that's just 
what they'll do. 
With the boys that wear the gray, and the boys that 
wear the blue. 

When the war is over, the boys will return 

To the land of milk and honey, with laurels justly 
earned. 
And tell us with eyes flashing bright 

How they knocked Blanco and the Spaniards out of 
sight. 



(Eespectfully dedicated to the Manila Fleet, by A. J. 
Andrews, Eichmond, Va.) 

THE OLYMPIA. 

On the Philippine coast she ruled the roast 

When Dewey was her captain; 
Neat hamjnocks made of the wave 



113 Poems, Etc., by Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

Dead Spaniards to be wrapped in. 
Long may she wave, our good old ship brave. 

And spur to resohition. 
Let seamen boast and landsmen toast 
The Flagship of the nation. 

THE BALTIMORE. 

There came by chance, to join the dance, 

The iron-sided Baltimore, 
With bristling guns and Maryland sons, 

To wrestle in this furore. 
A well-directed shot in a certain spot 
Sunk a Spanish ship on her first war trip, 
Her equal can't be found the whole world 'round. 

THE BOSTON. 

The Boston, a cruiser bold, 
On the foaming ocean rolled. 
Commanded by Captain Wilds, 
The Dandy, 0. 

Spaniards never found their match 
Till the Yankees did them catch. 
For the Boston boys for fighting 
Are the Dandy, 0. 

When the Spaniards hove in view. 
Says Captain Wilds to his crew, 
Come, clear the ship for action, and 
Be Handy, 0. 



Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jaclson Andrews. 113 

To the weathergage, boys get her, 
And make my men fight better. 
Give them EVANS gunpowder 
Mixed with Brandy, 0. 

The first broadside they poured 
Carried the Spaniards by the board 
And made their lofty frigate 
Look abandoned, 0. 

Admiral Monte jo said, "I am done," 
And fired a Lee gun 
And the Yankees struck up 
Yankee Doodle Dandy, 0. 

THE CONCORD, PETREL AND RALEIGH. 

Great gallant warships were these three — 
The Petrel, Concord, and big RALEIGH. 
They steamed in behind in one solid line. 
And looking as primp as you ever can find. 
The Petrel was the smallest on this fighting trip, 
She sunk in twenty minutes a Spanish warship. 
Then came the Concord, with cannons booming, 
Then the big Raleigh the Spaniards dooming. 
The Raleigh's gunners were the best, 
And killed more Spaniards than all the rest. 
In a few hours' time the victory was won 
From the thunders of the Yankee guns. 
So let the merry church bells ring. 
Of Commodore Dewey's victory sing; 



114 Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

From California's golden sand 
Praise Dewey's men all over the land. 
They belonged to us, they belonged to all, 
And answered to their country's call. 
These brave men fought not in vain, 

For in this battle 
They EEMEMBEEED THE MAINE. 

I received great thanks from the United States Gov- 
ernment, written to me by the Secretary of the Xavy, 
during the Spanish war. 



AMEEICA'S FAMOUS POEM. 

(Dedicated to Sampson's Flying Squadron.) 

Come one and all, both young and old. 

And listen to my ditty ; 
'Tis all about a warship fight 
Near Santiago city. 
Sampson's fleet, they did this work. 

And won this naval battle. 
Hark ! great heavens ! don't 

You hear the Yankee cannon rattle? 

Sampson, to win in this fight. 

Threw out a Schley bait. 
To coil around the Spaniards 

And doom them to their fate. 
Sampson sent a man ashore. 



Poems, Etc., by Andrew Jackson Andrews. 115 

He planted a signal near Fort Mono; 
On this flag wrote, "We will go. 
To never return ajiy more." 

The Spaniards grabbed the tempting bait 
That led them to their awful fate. 
Cervera said, "I will make the trip. 
And give these Yankee pigs the slip — 
Steam up, and put out to sea 
And strike right now for liberty." 
Cervera's squadron sailed out, they did, 
Putting folks in mind of William Kidd. 

But, ah ! little did he know 
The Yankee ships weren't far from shore. 
They steamed out bold and looking neat, 
When suddenly returned the Sampson fleet. 
"They're coming out," says Commander Schley; 
"Now, boys, make the Spaniards die; 
Steady, men; stick to your gun, 
And watch me in this naval fun." 

"Aim true," says Schley, "and be sure 
To sink the Spanish cowards low." 
Ready, aim, fire; they are done. 
Oh ! Listen to the Yankee guns. 
Sampson said, "Ye cowardly knaves, 
I'll give to you all watery graves." 
Did he do so ? Yes, all but one — 
Her name was the Cristobal Colon. 



IIG Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

She steamed ahead of Sampson's fleet. 
Says Schley, "That ship is hard to beat." 
When suddenly roared the Brooklyn's guns. 
The Oregon joining this naval fun. 
Bang! bang! roared the Oregon's gun, 
And here the victory was won 
By the thunders of the Yankee guns. 
The Cristobal Colon was driven ashore, 
To never fight us any more. 

Take off your hats and scrape your feet. 
For Schley and Sampson are hard to beat; 
Solomon was wise, but Sampson was strong; 
So now I've finished this naval song. ' 



THE LOSS OF THE SPANISH WAESHIP 
MARIA TEEESA. 

" The Maria Teresa, 
May heaven bless her;" 
The Spaniards built her. 
But the Yankees kilt-er. 
This warship was doomed from the start. 
Fare thee well, says Queen, 
For the best of friends must part. 

" The Maria Teresa, 
May heaven ever bless her;" 
She rests quiet and free. 



Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. 117 

And sleeps very soundly 
At the bottom of the sea. 
This ship fought Avell, 
But her efforts were in vain; 
She was sunlc by Uncle Sam 
For blowing up the Maine. 
Hobson thought he would raise her. 
And for a price to save her, 
Hobson did float her 
With his skillful band; 
And then commenced to tow her 
To America's fair land. 
But the stormy winds did blow. 
And the raging seas did flow, 
" The sailors toiled and worked 
As well as could be, 
But the Lord thought it best 
To let her have a rest, 
And sunk her to the bottom 
Of the deep blue sea." 

The water is too deep 

To bring her to the top, 

To be used once more 

For the devil's workship. 

It was He, it was He, 

That rules the land and sea, 

That sent to Spain and Uncle Sam 

This sad calamity. 

For He directed it from, above. 



118 Poems, Etc., by Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

And destined it to be. 
Sleep on, Maria Teresa, 
And quietly take your rest. 
The Spaniards love you dearly. 
But the mermaids love you best. 
The lightnings may flash, 
The loud cannon rattle. 
But never will you rise again 
To ever fight a battle. 
On a lonely sand-bed. 
At the bottom of the sea. 
You must now sleep forever. 
To Time — Eternity. 

Composed December 4, 1898. 



CERVERA'S RETURN TO SPAIN. 

Admiral Cervera has gone to Spain; 
He doubtless now remembers the Maine ; 
While in prison he behaved quite nice; 
Ah, what else could he do. 
For if he showed his Spanish pluck. 
The Yanks would put him through. 

Was he ever treated better 

By any other nation? 

For Uncle Sam did not wish 

To spoil his reputation. 

They fed him on the very best. 



Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jaclcson Andrews. 119 

Both his officers and men, 
Whilst a guest of Uncle Sam, 
In a prison pen. 

I wonder how he likes the Americans, 

And their mighty navy ; 

I cannot tell, quothed he, 

I cannot tell to save me. 

His mind wandered here and there. 

And frequently expresses 

A great desire to get home 

To receive the Queen's caresses. 

Alas ! the Spanish bird has flown 
Across the mighty ocean. 
To fight Uncle Sam again. 
He will hardly have a notion. 
So fare thee well, Cervera, 
If we never see you more, 
We will meet you, by and by. 
On Canaan's happy shore. 

This old man soon found out. 

When this war begun. 

That fighting the Americans 

Was anything but fun; 

So now, old boy, when you get home. 

Do find another occupation; 

Don't tackle Uncle Sam again. 

Or he will spoil your reputation. 



120 Poems, Eic, hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

So go and tell your countrymen. 
When you get home again, 
That you will ever bear in mind 
The sinking of the Maine. 
Adieu. 

Composed October 1, 1898. 



AN INTERNATIONAL CONVERSATION. 

FIRST QUESTION. 

The Queen — Oh, where can my gallant warships all be ? 

ANSWER. 

Uncle Sam — They lie at the bottom of the deep blue sea. 

SECOND QUESTION. 

The Queen — Oh, where is Cervera, his officers and men ? 

ANSWER. 

Uncle Sam — At Annapolis, Madam, in a prisoner's den. 

THIRD QUESTION 

The Queen — Oh, where are his cooks, stewards, and 
clerks ? 

ANSWER. 

Uncle Sam — In the stomachs, Madam, of whales and 
sharks. 

FOURTH QUESTION. 

The Queen — Pray, what was this for? Tell me not in 
vain. 



Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. 121 

ANSWER, 

Uncle Sam— I am punishing them. Madam, for sink- 
ing the Maine. 

FIFTH QUESTION (deceitful) . 
The Queen— Oh, dear Ubcle Sam, don't you want a 
kiss? 

ANSWER (bold). 

Uncle Sam — I don't care. Madam, if it affords you any 
bliss. 

SIXTH QUESTION. 

The Queen — Can't you return me the Philippines with- 
out further fuss ? 

ANSWER. 

Uncle Sam — Not at all. Madam, for they belong to U. S. 

SEVENTH QUESTION. ' 

Tlie Queen — Can't you return me Santiago in Cuba 
Libre? 

ANSWER. 

Uncle Sam — Oh, no, dear Madam, not a stiver, not a 
stiver. 

EIGHTH QUESTION (with remorse). 
The Queen — You have broken my heart ; oh, where shall 
I repose? 

PROUD ANSWER. 

Uncle Sam — It's hard to answer, Madam, for God only 
knows. 

July 29, 1898. 



122 Poems, Etc., hij Andreiu Jackson Andrews. 

DEDICATED TO AN AMERICAN LADY AND 
HER FMIILY ON DEWEY DAY. 

Arise early, Mary; this is Dewey Day. 

Listen, dear children ; don't you hear the bands play ? 

Just run to the window quick as you can, 

And behold, dear Mary, this vast surge of men. 

There is Jennie and Susie, and little Tommy, too ; 
Great heavens, children! just see the boys in blue! 
Come quick, children. We'll have lots of fun — 
Oh, hear the shrieking fife and rattling of the drum. 

Oh, Susis, dear, see the boys in gray ; 
They come from the South to honor this day. 
The blue and the gray are mingled together. 
Three cheers ! Three cheers ! Our countrj^ forever ! 

This way, children; there is Dewey, dear. 
Don't rumple your curls or seem to fear 
The grim-looking jack-tars of the wave ; 
They are ours, dear — the bravest of the brave. 

Hark! Listen to the cannon from the mighty war- 
ship ; 
They have just returned from a bloody fighting trip. 
They came here, too, to honor this day — 
To worship dear Dewey. Girls, this way ! This way ! 



Poems, Etc., by Andrew Jackson Andrews. 123 

In long, long years yet to come. 

Whether in sunshine or rain, 
Americans will ever bear in mind 

The sinking of the "Maine." 
In long, long years to come. 

Whether at home or far away. 
Remember, my dear children. 

The immortal Dewey Day. 

The frolic is now over — 

The kettle-drums cease to beat. 
The gay-dressed looking soldiers 

Are leaving the busy street. 
0, the Star Spangled Banner! 

Long may it wave 
Over the land of the free 

And the home of the brave. 

This poem explains a conversation from an American 
lady to her children at Admiral Dewey's reception in 
New York city. 



THE LAUNCHING OF THE SHUBEICK. 

Behold this grim visage of War; 

This is what we built you for. 

To defend our countr}' and flag to keep. 

Thou grim monster of the deep; 

Built at Richmond city. 

By honest workmen's hands. 

On beautiful James river. 



124 Poems, Etc., ly Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

The fairest in the land. 

View her from vstem to keel, 

Made of the best of steel; 

My mother State;, to thee I kneel — 

To Virginia! Virginia! 

The land of the free. 

The home of Lee and Jackson, 

The land of Liberty. 

Go on thy death-like errand, 
And when the cannon loudly roar, 
■ Remember those you left behind. 
From Old Virginia shore. 
Go and uphold your country's flag. 
And never say surrender. 
But give the world to understand 
That you are our Nation's defender. 
Her enemies will feel her power, 
With torpedoes on them shower. 
And to this unwelcome visitor say, 
Dpn't call again another day. 
We now consign thee to the deep. 
And with our sacred trust to keep, 
Amid the terrible din of war, 
Remember what we built you for. 
We christen this ship the "Shubrick," 
Slide her smoothly, but quick; 
Knock the blocks, and let her slip; 
Down she goes ! Hurrah ! she is afloat. 
Oh, look upon this fighting boat. 
Old Neptune now claims this craft. 



Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. 13^ 

The mermaids are having a hearty laugh; 
The frolicking shark will pelt her sides, 
Whilst the mighty waves she rides; 
The dolphins and the mighty whale 
Will be on her constant trail; 
But this ship will defy them all. 
And cause these fish to squeak and squall. 
We now consign thee from our sight. 
And bid this Torpedo Boat 
Good-night. Good-night ! Adieu ! 



DEDICATED TO SUFFEEING PUEETO EICO. 

A turtle dove with olive branch, 

Has come to let us know, 
That peace is sent to our land 

To last forevermore. 
This message was sent from Heaven, 

Saying our enemies are forgiven. 
Hosanna ! Hosanna ! 
Victory perches on our banner! 

Puerto Eico is now set free. 

By the sons of Liberty. 
The tyrant's chain is broken; 

Her children are now free-spoken. 
And all of this was done 

By the mighty American Gun. 
Hosanna ! Hosanna ! 
Victory perches on our banner! 



136 Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

The ships of Spain are now all sunk, 

Her sailors badly beaten, 
The Americans have gained the day. 

And the Spaniards are retreating. 
Hosanna ! Hosanna ! 
Victory perches on our banner! 

Our navy rules the sea. 

Wherever they may be. 
With stars and stripes from their mastheads. 

Emblems of sweet liberty. 
In long, long years yet to come. 

Whether in snow, storm or rain. 
We can all look back with pride to those 

Who remembered — remembered the Maine. 
Hosanna ! Hosanna ! 
Victory perches on our banner! 

This beautiful turtle dove, 

That came from above. 
With wings as white as snow driven, 

Delivered this message of peace to all. 
And returned to its home in Heaven. 

Hosanna ! Hosanna ! 
Victory perches on our banner! 

Richmond, Va., August 16, 1898. 



Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. 127 

THE EICHMOND BLUES. 

I hear the distant thunder hum, 

The old line bugle, fife, and drum. 

'This the Blues ! the Blues ! 

The Old Kichmond Blues! 

A company of fine reputation. 

Its oJBBcers are the best. 

Its men are all well dressed; 

An old-fashioned Virginia organization. 

So give three cheers 

For the Virginia Volunteers; 

Their names are known over nation. 

Three cheers for the Blues, 

The Old Eichmond Blues! 

With men of sound reputation. 

At Harper's Ferry town, 

A place of old renown, 

Johnnie Brown thought the Yankees 
Would sustain him; 

But there came Governor Wise, 

Who took him by surprise. 

And sent him to the happy 
Land of Canaan. 

Three cheers for the Blues, 
The Old Eichmond Blues! 
It's a corps of fine reputation. 
Its ofiicers are the best. 
Its men are well dressed; 



128 Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

An old-fashioned Virginia organization. 

When war came on of secession, 

And threatened this State to deform, 

This old-fashioned organization 

Eode safe and brave through the storm. 

Three cheers ! Three cheers ! 

For the Virginia Volunteers! 

Their fame is known over the nation. 

Three cheers for the Blues, 

The old Eichmond Blues, 

It's a corps of a fine reputation. 



When the war came on with Spain 

For sinking the Maine, 

It roused up the big Nation. 

They came to the front 

And bore the bravest brunt 

And sustained their old reputation. 

Three cheers! Three cheers! 

For the Virginia Volunteers! 

Their names are known over the Nation. 

Three cheers for the Blues! 

The Old Richmond Blues ! 

It's a corps of a fine reputation. 

October 18, 1899. 



Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jaclson Andrews. 129 

ON LIFE. 

Life is but a strife — 

A bubble; 'tis a dream. 
Man is but a little boat. 

That paddles down tlie stream. 

Is life worth living? I say no. 

My echo is heard from high and low. 
Is life worth living? I say no, no. 

And with my pen shall try to show. 

When God made man He gave a stomach; 

I say right here that was a flummux; 
Whether in health or sick in bed. 

The gnawing stomach must be fed. 

Now gentle folks, it strikes my notion. 
The stomach keeps the world in motion. 

Ever since Adam and Eve were made, 
Scratching for wealth has been our trade. 

Oh, just suppose we make two million, 
The world will say a thief and villain 

Oh, say is life worth living then, 

To be spurned and sneered by women and men ? 

Is life worth living? I say no. 

My pen is felt by high and low. 
We are alive to-day, and dead to-morrow; 

Great Heavens, what a world of sorrow! 



130 Poems, Etc., by Andrew Jaclcson Andrews. 

A friend of to-day is a Judas to-morrow. 

He will smile at you sweet and your money 
borrow. 
He will skin you every time, 

Until he gets your last dime. 
Then is this world fit to live in, to beg, to borrow, 
or to give in. 

Is life worth living ? I say no. 

My voice is heard by high and low. 
Is life worth living? Not for me, 

For I now very plainly see. 

Oh, God, why keep me in Thy paw, 

To toss me around as a straw. 
You have picked me up and turned me down. 

And caused your world on me to frown. 

You have used me as a toy 

Ever since I was a boy. 
I am growing old, and soon must die, 

So Your hand on others try. 

Is life worth living ? I say no. 

My wails are heard by high and low; 
So eat and drink and merry be. 

For to-morrow thy soul shall be required of 
thee. 



I 



Poems, Etc., by Andrew Jackson Andrews. 131 

When the race of life is nin. 

When the battle is fought and won, 

Then my days on earth are done. 

See the vassal and the king side by side lie 
withering. 

See the sword and scepter rust; 

Earth to earth, and dust to dust. 
Is life worth living? I say no. 

The truth is told to high and low. 



A GLOOMY WINTER'S DAY. 



sit in my chamber pondering and thinking. 
Yes, I am convinced that I've been overdrinking. 
I chunk the red-hot grate and knock out a cinder, 
I see the snowballs pelting against my antique win- 
dow. 

I 

I hear the little snow birds chirping and singing, 
I see the sleighs passing by, and their merry bells 
tinkling. 
It is He. It is He that rules the land and sea. 

That sent this awful blizzard to be remembered by me. 

It is cloudy, it is gloomy. 
Oh, I must stop this thinking. 

If it will only stop snowing, then I will stop drink- 
ing. 



133 Poems, Etc., by Andrew Jaclson Andrews. 

HON. JOHN LAMB. 

Virginia had a noble son, 

His character was white as snow. 

Wherever sweet Virginia went 
This Lamb was sure to go. 

Sometimes she sent him on long trips,^ 
And for months would stay away, 

But never yet would he fail. 
Her orders to obey. 

She sent him over to Washington, 

To represent her State, 
He toiled and worked day and night. 

And never slept too late. 

He attended to hor faithfully, 
And stuck up to her sons, 

He was an ornament to all 
As sure as water runs. 

We shall send him back to Congress, 
This well and true tried man, 

Eor his blessed name is above reproach, 
Our Congressman, Johnnie Lamb. 



MY SWEETHEART. 
I rapped gently at your door, and it was my heart rejoice, 

I knew that welcome footstep, and that familiar voice 
Making music in my ears on the lonely evening's hour. 

For I knew it was you dear that welcomed me there. 



Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jachson Andrcivs. 133 

The cooing dove seeks his mate wherever she may be. 

The reel bird and blue finch nestle in the tree; 
The bold American eagle soars aloft on high. 
But my love for you, dear, shall never, never die. 

If shot by huntsman's hands, 

I at thy feet lie down. 
If but one tear should shed. 

Gladly I die. 



LOVE ME NOW. 
(Written by Unknown Lady and Answered.) 

If you are going to love me. 

Love me now, while I can know 
All the sweet and tender feelings 

That from real affections flow; 
Love me now, while I am living; 

Do not wait 'till I'm gone, 
And chisel on the white marble 

Warm love words in cold stone. 
If you have sweet thoughts of me. 

Why not whisper them now ? 
Don't you know they'd make me 

Happy, and as glad as could be? 

If you wait 'till I'm sleeping. 

Never more to wake again, 
There'll be walls of earth between us. 

And I could not hear you then. 



134 Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

If you knew some one was thirsting 

For a drop of water, sweet. 
Would you be so slow to bring — 

Would you walk with laggard feet? 

There are tender hearts around us, 

Who are thirsting for love; 
Shall we deny to them 

What heaven has kindly sent us from above. 
I won't feel your fond caresses. 

When the sad grave's o'er my face; 
I won't crave your love and kisses 

In my last long resting place; 
So, if you love me dearest, 

Let me know while life is young. 
Do not wait 'till I'm gone. 

Is the burden of my song. 



ANSWBE TO LOVE ME NOW. 

Meet me there, meet me there. 

At my gate, at the gate. 
Mine own, my darling Kate. 

Oh, meet me at my gate. 
My own, my darling Kate, 

Will you meet me dearest angel at the gate? 

When the men around town. 

All turn you down, 
Shall pass you by with coldness and deceit; 



Poems, Etc., hrj Andrew Jackson Andrews. 135 

There is one on Church Hill 
That will love and bless you still, 

Provided that you don't t'urn him down. 
So, come forward, Miss, 

And receive a sweet kiss. 
For you wanted one to love you right now. 



POEM ON POVERTY. 

Poverty and disgrace 

Wear the same face. 
They are twin brothers. 

And lurk in the same place. 
Wherever you find one 

You will sure find the other. 
Poverty is a scourge. 

That is sent from God above 
As a punishment to those 

He does not love. 

Poverty is a crime 

That is felt by those 
That drink rye whiskey 

And wear old clothes. 
Poverty hangs around the widow's door; 

His grasp is felt from shore to shore. 
Poverty hangs around the judge's bench. 

Where unfortunates are punished 
For the least ofi'ense. 



136 Poems, Etc., hij Andrew Jachson Andreivs. 

Poverty hangs around the gilded saloon, 

Where drunkards seal their awful doom. 
Poverty lingers around the harlot's den, 

Where once chaste women were ruined by men. 
In the country poverty shows his hand, 

Especially to the owners of poor land; 
He slumbers around the poor farmer's door, 

That works and toils with shovel and hoe, 
The best he eats is cold corn bread. 

And sleep at night on an old sttaw bed. 

Poverty is death's shining mark. 

He walks off then 
Merry as a lark. 

Poverty is God's right bower, 
His enmity on mankind 

He delights to shower; 
He plays well his hand 

And wins the stakes; 
He then dissects them 

As rattlesnakes. 

The rich when passing the poor man by 

Earely looks him in the eye. 
Dimes and dollars. 

Dollars and dimes. 
To be poor is the worst 

Of all the crimes. 
To arms, to arms, ye brave. 

The avenging sword unsheathe. 
Strike bold poverty a death blow. 
And keep him from your front door. 



Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jaclson Andrews. 137 

STUDY OF A POET. 
(By Himself.) 

There is an old man 

That lives on Church Hill, 
If the devil hasn't got him 

He lives there still. 
This old bard was 

Born in Gloucester county. 
But from that place 

He receives no bounty. 
Both of his parents 

Are now dead, 
And he sighs and groans 

About his old homestead. 
When he was young 

He was a bold Confed, 
And many a man 

In war shot dead. 
His eyes are as black 

As a carrion crow. 
And seldom comes 

Outside of his door. 
And when he does, 

He gets dead drunk; 
He then commences 

To show his spunk; 
He bawls and squalls 

And very loudly talk, — 
And shoves the men 



138 Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

From the sidewalk 
If you treat him 

In a gentle manner 
He commences to sing 

The Star-Spangled Banner; 
If not, he will chew the rag, 

And whistle aloud 
The Bonnie Blue Flag. 

Of children, he has a plenty. 
Say, some fifteen or twenty. 
He has a sweetheart 
That lives in the North, 

When a young babe 
Fed him on chicken broth. 

Her name is Mary Jane, 
She lives in the Highland; 

I tell you, gentle folk, 
She is the belle of Staten Island. 

He still has another. 
Her name is Dear Pearle, 

And considers her 
The queen of the world. 

Her light brown hair 
And dark blue eyes — 

Ah, my ! 
And for her hand 

Would lay me down and die. 
He sells Florida oranges 

And cream cheese. 
And does his best 



Poems, Etc., by Andrew Jackson Andrews. 139 

His customers to please. 
He is now growing old 

And cannot live long. 
And now completes 

The burden of his song. 
And where he will go, 

It's a wonder to tell — 
It may be heaven. 

Or it may be hell; 
For when he dies 

It will be night, 
And be forever out of sight. 

— Andrew JacTcson Andrews. 
Eichmond, Va. 



DEDICATED TO HON. J. G. POLLARD. 

Dear Fellow Citizens to give 

Me your attention — 
About a Young Friend 

In the Constitutional Convention. 
Although a Man of very 

Small Dimension 
Is John Garland Pollard, 
Of Virginia's Convention. 
He has light hair 

And small blue eyes. 
But I tell you. Gentle Folks, 

He is wonderfully wise. 
For making new Laws 



140 Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jaclson Andrews. 
In this State — 



Just tackle him once 

In a Debate. 
He can't change 

The Laws at once. 
For he is no fool 

Or a dunce. 
It takes good time, 

To do this work, 
The same as a Book-Keeper 

Or a Clerk; 
For when he gets through, 

You can bless Your Maker, 
He will certainly punish 

The Law-Breaker. 
He will carry safe 

The Ships of State, 
Be it early, or 

Be it late. 
Between now 

And next Fall, 
The Laws of Virginia 

Will please you all. 
Be patient with 

The Constitutional Convention, 
And friend, John Pollard, 

Of Small Dimension. 
He is small in size. 

But large in brains. 
And for making good Laws 



Poems, Etc., hij Andrew Jackson Andrews. 141 

He spares no pains. 
So give three cheers 

For Virginia's Convention ; 
One for John Pollard, 

Of very Small Dimension. 

His Friend, the Poet, 
Andrew Jackson Andrews. 



NO ONE CAKES FOR ME. 
(By A. J. Andrews.) 

0. I. C. 

Plain as can be, 

No one cares for me. 

Am now growing old, 

My hair is turning gray. 

Haven't long 

On earth to stay. 

It is plain to me 

As A B C 

That no one cares for me. 

When I try to make a dollar, 
Men wink, blink and holler. 
Oh, let ns keep him poor 
As an old carrion crow. 
His day for work is done ^ 
His race is nearly rnn. 
Ah, me; I plainly see 
No one cares for me. 



143 Poems, Etc., by Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

Oh when I go to church 
Girls leave me in the lurch. 
They make ugly faces, 
And hideous, awful frowns 
As they brush up against me 
In their black silk gowns. 
Ah me, how plainly I see 
No one now cares for me. 

If invited to a ball 

Which is the worst of all. 

Ladies look at me and squall. 

He ought to be in bed. 

To be with the men 

A drinking and dancing 

Playing cards and prancing. 

Ah, Ah, 'tis plain to me 

As AB C 

That no one now cares for me. 

But if I have money 

Oh; how so curious and funny 

They look at me and smile 

And whisper, dear child 

Where have you been. 

You good old thing. 

Can't you give me a slip 

From your aged wrinkled lip. 

Ah, me, 'tis plain to see 

Without money 

No one cares for me. 



Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. 143 
A SPICY JOKE. 



OLD NED HAZARD AND THE RUSSIAN COUNT. 



He sold his notes at a great discount, 

To marry his daughter to the Kussian Count. 

He made big money out of the South, 

And did them up for all they were worth. 

Oh, do, Johnnie Booker, do ; 

Help dis nigger to cut dis figger, 
Wid a long-tail Blue. 
Oh, do, Johnnie Booker, do. 

He thought she married a Eissian poet, 
But proved to be a worthless goet (goat). 
He spent Ned's money and called him Dad, 
Which caused old Ned to feel mighty bad. 

Oh, do, Johnnie Booker, do, etc. 

He took Ned's daughter across the pond; 

Der Eussians put him under bond. 

He owed so much he could not pay. 

So she packed her trunk and sailed away. 

Her trip was one of heavy cost. 

And much of Neddie's money lost; 

He sent her home on Shrewsberry Hill ; 

If the devil hasn't got her, she lives there still. 

Oh, do, Johnnie Boc^kgr; do, etc. 



144 Poems, Etc., hy Andreiv Jackson Andrews. 

Ned tried to starve old Capt. Jack 

To keep him down and under der hack ; 

But Johnnie could not see the point, 

And knocked old Neddie out of joint. 

If he to York river goes, 

They will break his back and smash his nose. 

Oh, do, Johnnie Booker, do, etc. 

The Harrietta, they say she ploughs. 

But the Elizabeth Ann has crossed her bows. 

The Ann Matilda, she ain't slow. 

Sheets aft, and let it blow. 

Old Ned's a traveling agent fake, 

So dis spicy joke must take. 

Oh, do, Johnnie Booker, do ; 

Help dis nigger to cut dis figger, 
Wid a long-tail Blue. 
Oh, do, Johnnie Booker, do. 

GIT. 

Composed by A. J. Andrews, 
2300 Broad St., Eichmond, Va. 



Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jachson Andrews. 145 
LAERY O'BRIEN. 



A Very Spicy Song Sung by the Sailors and Sol- 
diers OF the Confederate States During 
THE War. 

From the Scrap Booh of A. J. Andrews. 

I've Just returned from the ocean. 

Where thunder and ball were in motion, 

For fighting I've never had a notion, 

'Twould never do for Larry O'Brien. 

I've boxed around the shore 

Like a great many more ; 

Have knocked down the Spalpuns 

By the half-dozen score, 

But I've never found it Oliver 

For the balls to knock the Liver 

Out of Larry, out of Lan-y, 

'Twould never do for Larry O'Brien. 

Chorus — 

Oh, the devil on the Gal that 

Wouldn't have me, have me 

Have me, The divil on the Gal 

That wouldn't have me, 

She would never do for Larry O'Brien. 

Second Verse. 

The first thing I saw was a man lying dead, 
Says I, upon my soul, sir, 



146 Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jachson Andrews. 

You had better been in bed 

Than to be delighting 

In such fighting, 

Which I thought no ways inviting 

On to Larry, young Larry, 

'Twould never do for Larry O'Brien. 

Chorus — 
The Divil on the Gal, etc., etc. 

Third Verse. 

There is a dirty little middy 

In the milk shop. 
Faith he ordered me up 

To the main top. 
But my head swam around 

Like a whip top; 
'Twas no place for Larry O'Brien. 
The sailors from above 
They lowered down a rope; 
They tied it 'round my waist, 
And they hauled me up, 
But I kept a bawling and squalling, 
And the Divils kept a-hauling 
Of Larry, 'twas no place for Larry O'Brien. 

Chorus — 
Oh, the Divil take the Gal, etc., etc. 



Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. 141 

Now the captain gave orders for a sailing. 

But the sides of our ship wanted nailing; 

All hands to a pumping an a bailing; 

There was work for Larry O'Brien 

With their hammers and their blocks, 

And their mighty heavy knocks. 

She looked for all the world 

Like the Bivil in the stocks. 

And with their Oakum 

The Divil choke um. 

And they had for to poke um 

On to Larry, young Larry, 

On to young Larry O'Brien. 

Chorus — 
The Divil on the Gal, etc., etc. 

Now, I'll bid adieu to the Captain and the 

sailors, 
Likewise to the caulkers and bailers 
And I'll start right out to the tailors 
For to rig out Larry O'Brien. 
Oh, bloody nouns. 
When I'm free from all wounds, 
I'll marry some plump widow 
Worth twenty thousand pounds. 
And all adore her. 
And implore her 
To marry young Larry, 
To marry young Larry O'Brien. 



148 Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

The Divil on the girl that 

Wouldn't have me, have me, have me. 

Oh, the Divil on the girl that 

Wouldn't have me. 

She would never do for Larry O'Brien. 



I WILL NOT HELP HIM ANY MOEE. 

DEDICATED TO THEODORE ROOSEVELT. 

My love for him is fading fast, 

Like a rose in the winter's blast; 

Ox gall in exchange for love 

Is best to send the turtle dove! 

Shall I help him any more? 

Oh, my blessed Saviour, no ! 

I helped him in Booker Washington's case. 

Which, lawyers say, was out of place. 

Made poems for him, and sent them South ; 

He did not help me a dollar's worth. 

I will not help you any more. 

So I thought I would let you know. 

I know you will tear this up. 

And call me an old bull pup ; 

But, ah! I am a Confederate Vet, 

And now propose to let you sweat. 

Haven't I helped you like a man? 

Oh, just deny it, if you can . 

If I keep helping you — well, well, well ! 

I would starve, die, and go to hell. 

I will not help you with my pen. 

So here is the beginning and the end. 



Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. 149 

ANDREW JACKSON ANDREWS, 
The Poet of Virginia. 



A PASSIONATE PLEA FOR ROOSEVELT. 

The Charlotte (N. C.) Observer, the Spartanburg 
(S. C) Herald, and the Norfolk Landmark, all with 
poets of their own, persistently ignore the merits of 
Richmond's sweet singer. Now we give them another 
chance. They are invited to study this contribution 
and say honestly whether any of the productions of 
their local birds can compare with it by any rule known 
to gentlemen, to journalists, or to the wholesale and 
retail verse manufacturing trade: 

(By A. J. Andrews.) 

A POEM 

In Defense of Theodore Roosevelt, 

President of the United States, 

For Wining and Dining Booker Washington. 

Why should the South 

Hunt me down 
Like a hound on 

A tiger's track? 
Why can't they live 

In peace with me to 
Be constantly 

Setting me back. 



150 Poems, Etc., by Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

Did I not fight for them 

At my country's call, 
Offer up my life's blood 

For them, one and all? 
Did not the Black Troops 

Fight for U. S. (Uncle Sam) 
At the battle of San Juan Hill 

Save the Riders on that day 
And there the Spaniards kill? 

Did they not, with bayonets bright. 
Charge in a gallant manner 

Saved North and South 
From disgrace 

And the Star Spangled Banner? 
Oh, away with political strife 

Treat me in a decent manner 
Eemember those that 

Fought that day 
For the Star Spangled Banner. 

So you can hate me 
As you may 

For I am helping 
You every day 

So do let me rest at ease 
To wine and dine 

With whom I please 
And eat rye bread 

And Limburger cheese 
For Heaven's sake. Amen. 

Composed by Andrew Jackson Andrews, 2'200 East 
Broad Street, Eichmond, Va. February 23, 1905. 



Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. 151 

COMPARISON CHALLENGED. 

The Charlotte (N. C.) Observer has a poet of whom 
it is justly proud. It is invited, however, to gnash its 
teeth in impotent envy over this morceau from Rich- 
mond's favorite and most tuneful singer : 

MEMORIES OP THE PAST AND THE BATTLE 
OF GETTYSBURG. 

Too well do I remember 

The place where I was born. 
The bright, shining sun 

Came peeping through at morn. 

Well do I remember 

The roses red and white. 
The bright, shining stars 

Came peeping in at night. 

Well do I remember 

Whilst living near the bay, 
I'd run and jump, fish and hunt. 

To pass the time away. 

It's painful to remember 

An awful gloomy day. 
When two armies met 

In deadly battle array. 

On the rugged fields of Gettysburg 
Did they start this fight. 



152 Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

They commenced in the early morn, 
And kept it up till night. 



The Federals wore the blue, 

The Confederates wore the gray; 

I cannot with pen describe 
This thrilling, bloody affray. 

These armies faced each other 

On a long line of hills; 
The air was filled all that day 

With bombs and leaden pills. 

The army mules did bray. 
The horses they did neigh; 

The muskets they did rattle. 
And the cannons they did roar; 

The loud report was heard 
As far as Baltimore. 

During this field of carnage 

A dying comrade lay, 
I bent with heartfelt sorrow 

To hear what he might say. 

I pressed my hand against his cheek, 
I arose and walked away; 

He was dead; lie was gone, 
His life had passed away. 



Poems, Etc., by Andrew JacTcson Andrews. 153 

The earth did fairly groan, 

I could hear the wounded mourn, 
A long sheet of fire 

Distinctly could be seen 
By the thunders of the cannons. 

Ah! was this a dream? 
Oh, no; it was true; 

It was a hard-fought battle 
Between the Gray and the Blue. 

They would charge and countercharge 

And neither side would run; 
'Twas the hardest-fought battle 

Since the war begun. 

The Blue and the Gray 

Both died together; 
Their chivalry did they seal 

To this world forever. 
This battle caused hearts to ache, 

North, South, far and near; 
For somebody's darling 

Forever slumbers here. 

— Andrew Jackson Andrews, 
Richmond, Va. 



154 Poems, Etc., by Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

DEDICATED TO THE RICHMOND GIRLS. 
By a. J. Andrews, Composer. 

Oh, how can I spare the time 

To be composing so much rhyme! 

It seems very pleasant recreation 

To be composing verses for the nation. 

The long, long weary day 

Has passed in tears away; 

The long, long weary day, 

Has passed in tears away; 

I wish he would come once more 

And love me as before. 

When I get up in the morning I dress quite neat; 

Then commence to promenade the street 

I step over to Anthony's, on Main street. 

And drink a little julep, julep sweet. 

My brains commence to work, and get in a twirl. 

I then look out for the handsomest girl. 

I walk a little further, and see dear Pearl. 

Great heaven, isn't she a handsome girl? 

With her light-brown hair and deep, mellow, blue eye. 

And for her hand would lay me down and die. 

I then take a cab and drive to the park. 

I light a cigar, for it's getting quite dark. 

Oh, how they come and commence to sing; 

Some with them fragrant flowers bring. 

Then they commence to laugh and twitter. With 

sparkling eyes and rosy, rosy cheek. 
Ah, my ! ain't they hard to beat ? 



Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. p5 

They are dressed in satin; they are dressed in silk; 

Their complexion as fair as snow-white milk. 

They were sent by God above 

For the men in Eichmond to love. 

Precious jewels, heaven divine, 

Lovely angels, thou art mine, 

For thou art a boon to man. 

Just deny it, if you can. 

Oh, Sarah Jane and Caroline, 

Just place your snow-white hand in mine. 

Kiss me, darling, for you know 

To my peaceful couch must go. 

The Baltimore girls are hard to beat, 

But the Richmond belles are just as sweet. 

They are all a man can ask. 

Will now close this difficult task. 



Executive Mansion, Washington, 

July 30, 1898. 
My Dear Sir, — I beg leave to acknowledge the receipt 
of your letter of the 17th instant, and in the Presi- 
dent's behalf to thank you for the courtesy which you 
have extended to him. 

Very truly yours, 

J. A. PORTEE, 
Secretary to tlie President. 

0. 
Mr. Andrew J. Andrews, 
2200 Broad Street, 
Richmond, Va. 



156 Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

Navy Department, 
Washington, June 23, 1898. 

Sir, — Permit nie to acknowledge, with thanks, receipt 
of the verses composed by you, dedicated to the Manila 
fleet. 

Very respectfully, 

OBEN H. ALLEN", 
Acting Secretary. 
P. 
Mr. Andrew J. Andrews, 
2300 Broad Street, 
Richmond, Va. 



A BURLESQUE ON THE SAMPSON-SCHLEY 
COURT OF INQUIRY. 

THE COURT. 

Was it Sampson or Schley 
That won the vict-ory 
At Santiago Harbor? 

WITNESS 

I, say the Fly, 

With my little Eye, 
Saw Admiral Schley 
Win the Vict-ory 
At Santiago Harbor. 

THE COURT. 

Who saw the Spaniards die? 
I, said the Sparrow, 



Poems, Etc., by Andrew Jaclson Andrews. 157 

With my Bow and Arrow, 
I saw them die, 

And helped Admiral Schley 
To win the Vict-ory 

At Santiago Harbor. 

THE COURT. 

Who tolled the Bell? 
I, said the Bull, 
Because I can pull. 
I tolled the Bell, and 
Sounded the Knell 
For Admiral Schley 
That won the Vict-ory 
At Santiago Harbor. 

THE COURT. 

Where was Sampson 
At the Battle of 
Santiago Harbor? 

WITNESS 

Sampson lacked spunk. 
Then got on a drunk 
Sailed down the bay 
And stayed away 
All that day. 

THE COURT. 

What did Sampson do 
When he returned? 



158 Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

WITNESS 

When Sampson did return 
His conscience did burn, 
For sailing away 

Leaving Admiral Schley 
To win the victory 
At Santiago Harbor. 

THE COURT. 

Upon the evidence of 

The Bull, Fly and Sparrow, 
With his Bow and Arrow, 
Doth award a Gold 
Medal to Schley 

That won the Vict-ory 
At Santiago Harbor, 

The Court and Witnesses will now unite in prayer : 

Oh, Lord of Love 

Look from above 

And bless the owl 

That ate the fowl 

And left the bones 

For Sampson and Jones 

At the battle of Santiago Harbor. 

The Court adjourns. 

Composed by Andrew Jackson Andrews, 

Eichmond, Va. 



Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. 159 

Dedicated to the old maids of Virginia. 
WHY I AM AN OLD MAID. 

I'll be no submissive wife 

No, not I, 
I'll be no slave for life 

No, not I; no, not I. 
I'll not mend his clothes. 

No, not I, 
Or be dragged around by the nose. 

No, not I; no, not I. 
I have a large muff. 
And a big box of snuff 
And my pipe I can puff, 

So can I. 
So men step aside 
For I will not be a bride 

No, not I; no, not I. 
When I walk around town 
With my black silk gown 
Oh, just see the men frown 

Upon I. 
I will be a gay old maid 

Yes, I shall. 
Of the men I'm not afraid 

No, not I; no, not I. 
Oh, I am an old game hen, 

So am I, 
And care not for the men 
No, not I; no, not I. 



160 Poems, Etc., by Andrew Jackson Andrews. 

Oh, when I go to church, 

Ah, my. 
Men leave me in the lurch 

Then I sigh. 
When I go to a ball 
Which is the worst of all, 
Men point at me and squall. 
There is an old maid; 
Of the men I'm afraid, 

No, not I ; no, not I. 
For I will never cry 
About these men 
That's not worth two for ten. 
So, df^ai girls, 
Don't nii -6 a fuss 
For these men 
I don't care a cuss. 
So adieu, gentle folks, 
I will rest for a while 
For this old maid 
Has done you up in style. 

Yes Have I. 

Composed by Andrew Jackson Andrews, 

Richmond, Va. 
August 8, 1901. 



THE STOEM AT BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. 

The stormy winds did blow, 
Remorseless tears did flow 
From sobbing mothers dear. 



Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jaclson Andrews. 161 

Where babes were killed right here, 
By a rustless cyclone sent 
To destroy Birmingham, was bent, 
On, on, this terrible tempest sped 
Melting hearts that were hard as lead; 
The matron and maid killed 

Dead right here. 
Have I not said before 
Soon we all must go, 
From this world of trouble • 
That's merely a soap bubble, 
Some day the storm of death 

Will come. 
And point us to our awfuj "Hrom. 
Is life worth living? ^^i-^' 
I say no. 

My pen is felt from shore to shore. 
We are only sent here to stay, 
To be snapped suddenly away. 
This is not your home 
Eemember silly and wise. 
But above in yond heaven 
Eternal in the skies. 
Eat, drink and merry, merry be, 
To-morrow thy soul shall be required of thee. 
When ramljling this earth 
As peaceful as a lamb, 
Eemember, gentle folks. 
The storm at Birmingham. 

Composed by Andrew Jackson Andrews. 



162 Poems, Etc., hy Andrew Jackson Andrews. 



"AN ODE ON WHISKEY." 

Of all the men beneath the skies, 

An inveterate drimkard I do despise; 

But a mint julep now and then, 

Is relished by the best of men. 

Although it distracts the mind and brain, 

'Tis best from whiskey to refrain ; 

Whiskey causes the world to groan, 

W^hiskey causes millions to mourn; 

Whiskey causes men to fail. 

Whiskey fills the city jail. 

Whiskey causes the world to shudder. 

Whiskey causes men to murder. 

Whiskey breaks the wife's heart. 

Whiskey causes relatives to part. 

Whiskey causes all sorts of crimes. 

And make men spend their hard-earned dimes. 

'Tis whiskey that causes the harlots den, 

AYhere once chaste women were ruined by men; 

A few drinks here and a few drinks there, 

And their virtue is gone, 'tis true, I declare 

Whiskey makes a man a slave. 

And leads him to an early grave; 

^Tis whiskey that causes ships to sink. 

By drunken captains, oh ! just think — 

That fills his skin with strong drink. 

And sends souls to a watery grave. 

Whilst sailing over the mighty waves. 

'Tis whiskey that causes the sweetheart 



Poems, Etc., by Andrew Jackson Andrews. 1G3 

To forsake her lover and depart; 
'Tis whiskey that causes man and wife, 
To frequently separate for life. 
The forger writes another's name, 
Caused by whiskey ; shame, oh ! shame ; 
And sends him headlong to prison — 
Say, can this crime be forgiven 
By men on earth or angels in heaven? 
Eival lovers, whilst on a spree, 
Kill each other frequently; 
Drunken parents often slay 
Their little babes in open day. 
The drunken raper with a glaring eye. 
Despoils his victim and leaves her to die; 
So, gentle folks, I now me thinks. 
The worst of crimes is caused by drinks. 
Why, then, should we whiskey drink ? 
Just think ; oh ! think. 
The bitter cup of misery it brings, 
To destruction our happiness flings; 
Crimes from drink would fill a book, 
That would reach from Eichmond to Sandy- 
Hook. 

May 2, 1900. Andrew Jackson Andrews. 



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